Shanghai-based biotech BJ Bioscience Inc. has announced a clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement with Merck, Sharp & Dohme Inc. (MSD; NYSE: MRK). This strategic partnership will see the combination of BJ Bio’s pipeline candidate, BJ-001, with MSD’s programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitor, Keytruda (pembrolizumab), in a Phase I clinical trial targeting general locally advanced/metastatic solid tumors.
The Role of BJ-001 in Cancer Immunotherapy
BJ-001 is a tumor-targeting IL-15 fusion protein that is designed to expand and activate cancer-fighting natural killer (NK) cells and CD8+ T cells. The drug is characterized by its selected distribution in tumors with high integrin expression, which may enhance its efficacy in immunotherapy. BJ-001 is also under assessment as a monotherapy and has shown positive early clinical data regarding tolerability, immunogenicity, and antitumor activity.
Implications of the Partnership and Trial
The collaboration between BJ Bioscience and MSD represents a significant step in the development of novel combination therapies for cancer treatment. The Phase I clinical trial aims to evaluate the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of the combination of BJ-001 and Keytruda. This approach has the potential to leverage the complementary mechanisms of action of the two drugs, targeting different aspects of the tumor microenvironment and immune response.-Fineline Info & Tech
