November 14, 2016
Pfizer Inc. has announced that it has entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the National Cancer Institute (NCI), which is a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). According to this agreement, Pfizer will collaborate with NCI’s Center for Cancer Research (CCR) for arranging and conducting preclinical and clinical trials to evaluate three investigational immunotherapy agents. These include Pfizer’s proprietary immunotherapy agonistic monoclonal antibodies targeting OX40 (CD134), (also known as PF-04518600); utomilumab that targets 4-1BB (CD137), (also known as PF-05082566); as well as avelumab, a fully human anti-PD-L1 IgG1 monoclonal antibody (also known as PF-06834635 and MSB0010718C), which is currently being developed through an alliance between Pfizer and Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.
Under the CRADA, the three investigational immunotherapies will be studied alone, in various combinations with each other, and in combination with standard therapies, such as radiation, chemotherapy, and targeted therapies across a range of cancers.
“We are looking forward to combining our expertise with those at the NCI to explore agents targeting the immune system in doublet and triplet combinations. Clinical studies focused on translational endpoints will allow us to optimally develop potential rational combinations. The CRADA is an important collaboration for us as we seek to realize the full potential of immunotherapy and hope to ultimately transform the cancer treatment paradigm,” said Chris Boshoff, the Head and Vice President for Early Development, Translational and Immuno-Oncology at Pfizer.
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