Bristol-Myers Squibb and CytomX Therapeutics expand research alliance

Bristol-Myers Squibb has announced a new collaboration with CytomX Therapeutics focused on the development of new cancer therapies.

The companies have agreed to expand their their 2014 strategic partnership to encompass the discovery of novel oncology treatments, including up to eight additional targets, using CytomX's proprietary Probody platform.

Probody therapeutics take advantage of unique conditions in the tumour microenvironment to enhance the tumour-targeting features of an antibody, while also reducing drug activity in healthy tissues.

Four oncology targets, including CTLA-4, have been developed as part of the original May 2014 agreement. CTLA-4 has been progressed to investigational new drug-enabling studies, while the other three are in the lead discovery and optimisation phase.

Under the terms of the new agreement, CytomX will grant Bristol-Myers Squibb exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialise Probody therapeutics for up to six additional oncology targets and two non-oncology targets.

Dr Carl Decicco, head of discovery at Bristol-Myers Squibb, said: "We look forward to working more extensively with CytomX on this innovative and potentially disruptive approach in oncology, as well as other disease areas."

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