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- Shares of LAVA Therapeutics (NASDAQ:LVTX) gained over +30% premarket on Thursday after the firm entered into a clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement with Merck (NYSE:MRK).
- The agreement will see Merck provide its anti-PD-1 therapy Keytruda (pembrolizumab) for the dose escalation and expansion phases of prostate cancer drug candidate LAVA-1207. LAVA is currently conducting a Phase 1/2a study of the candidate.
- LAVA (LVTX) and Merck (MRK) will evaluate the combination of Keytruda and LAVA-1207 to treat metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). A combination arm of the Phase 1/2a study will be initiated in the first half of 2024.