Bristol-Myers Squibb and Calithera Biosciences expand cancer research alliance

Bristol-Myers Squibb and Calithera Biosciences have expanded their existing cancer research collaboration to include the study of a new combination therapy option.

The companies will work together to evaluate Bristol-Myers Squibb's Opdivo in combination with Calithera's CB-839 in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and melanoma. CB-839 is an investigational glutaminase inhibitor currently in phase I/II clinical studies.

In preclinical studies, CB-839 has been shown to enhance the effects of checkpoint inhibitors, as well as reversing tumour resistance to these therapies by altering the immune-suppressive microenvironment and promoting an anti-tumour response.

With Opdivo designed to overcome immune suppression, it is hoped that the two drugs' modes of action will complement each other.

Dr Fouad Namouni, senior vice-president and head of oncology development at Bristol-Myers Squibb, said: "We are pleased to expand our collaboration with Calithera into NSCLC and melanoma, building upon our existing clinical study evaluating Opdivo and CB-839 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma."

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