Aduro begins trial of MK-5890 for non-small cell lung cancer treatment

The biopharmaceutical giant has also received a USD 10 million development milestone payment from Merck & CO. for the initiation of the trial

A clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, Aduro Biotech, Inc. recently announced to have bagged a USD 10 million development milestone payment under its worldwide licensing agreement with the leading biopharmaceutical company, Merck & CO., for the initiation of a Phase 2 clinical trial of an anti-CD27 agonist, MK-5890, in NSCLC (non-small cell lung cancer).

For the record, Aduro Biotech is focused on developing therapies targeting the STING (Stimulator of Interferon Genes) and APRIL (A Proliferation Inducing Ligand) pathways for the treatment of autoimmune, inflammatory diseases and cancer.

In preclinical studies, Adoro’s anti-CD27 antibody activation has demonstrated enhanced T-cell response, which in combination with immune checkpoint inhibition has shown the ability to achieve complete tumor eradication. 

Andrea van Elsas, Chief Scientific Officer at Aduro was reportedly quoted saying that the company is elated to witness Merck & CO putting efforts to advance MK-5890 through development with the initiation of a Phase 2 clinical trial in non-small cell lung cancer.

Elsas added saying that the achievement of the recent milestone would not have been possible without the progressive efforts of the exceptional team at Aduro Biotech Europe and the B-select technology,  which have produced various monoclonal antibodies, along with an anti-APRIL antibody, BION-1301 and MK-5890 that the company is currently developing for Berger's disease (IgA nephropathy).

As per sources close to the matter, the Phase 2 clinical trial is designed to assess the safety  and efficacy of pembrolizumab in combination with an anti-CD27 agonist, MK-5890 in patients suffering from advanced non-squamous or squamous NSCLC, that have been treated earlier with anti-PD-L1 therapy. The study is 1 of the 3 pembrolizumab sub-studies that were supposed to be conducted under one pembrolizumab umbrella master protocol.

Source Credit: https://investors.aduro.com/news-releases/news-release-details/aduro-biotech-announces-milestone-achieved-under-merck?field_nir_news_date_value%5bmin%5d=