Germany’s Merck KGaA (ETR: MRK) has announced that its Switzerland-based subsidiary, Ares Trading, has entered into a partnership with US-based Aulos Bioscience. This collaboration aims to advance the clinical development of Merck’s anti-PD-L1 drug Bavencio (avelumab) in combination with Aulos’s anti-IL-2 antibody candidate, AU-007. The financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.
As per the terms of the collaboration, Aulos will lead a Phase II study investigating the combination of Bavencio, AU-007, and aldesleukin for the treatment of solid tumors. AU-007 is noted as the first AI-designed human monoclonal antibody (mAb) to enter clinical development, targeting the CD25-binding portion of IL-2. This innovative approach is designed to prevent IL-2 interaction with regulatory T cells while preserving its ability to bind and expand effector T-cells and NK cells.
In the Phase I segment of an ongoing Phase I/II trial focusing on unresectable locally advanced or metastatic cancer, AU-007 has demonstrated promising early signals of anti-tumor activity. Additionally, it has shown potential in reducing levels of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and eosinophils.- Flcube.com
