Bristol-Myers Squibb and PsiOxus announce cancer research alliance

Bristol-Myers Squibb has announced a new immuno-oncology-focused research collaboration with PsiOxus Therapeutics.

This exclusive clinical collaboration deal aims to evaluate the safety, tolerability and preliminary efficacy of PsiOxus' enadenotucirev in combination with Bristol-Myers Squibb's approved therapy Opdivo.

Enadenotucirev is a systemically administered oncolytic adenovirus therapeutic designed to stimulate immune response, while Opdivo works by alleviating immune suppression. It is thought they could be used together to treat a range of tumour types in late-stage cancer patients.

Phase I studies will now be carried out to determine whether combining the two agents can significantly improve the proportion of patients achieving objective tumour responses, while also monitoring the extent of tumour shrinkage and the durability of responses.

Dr Jean Viallet, global clinical research lead for oncology at Bristol-Myers Squibb, said: "This collaboration continues to expand our clinical development of Opdivo and explores how oncolytic viruses may provide a complementary mechanism to address tumours that are resistant to I-O therapy."

The company received EU approval for a new combination of Opdivo and Yervoy as a treatment for advanced melanoma in May.