Aulos Bioscience Collaborates with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany for Joint Clinical Trial on Bavencio® and AU-007 Combination
Thursday, May 16, 2024
Aulos Bioscience, a company in immuno-oncology striving to transform cancer treatment with innovative IL-2 therapeutics, has announced a significant collaboration with Ares Trading S.A., a Swiss subsidiary of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. This collaboration involves the utilization of Bavencio® (avelumab) in a clinical trial for AU-007, Aulos' leading human monoclonal antibody candidate.
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany will supply Bavencio for evaluation alongside AU-007 and low-dose, subcutaneous aldesleukin in an additional Phase 2 cohort of Aulos’ ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical trial of AU-007 in solid tumor cancers. Bavencio, an approved human anti-programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) antibody, offers a unique mechanistic synergy potential with AU-007 due to its ability to engage natural killer cells and interrupt the PD-L1/PD-1 checkpoint, thus enhancing the immune response against tumor cells.
Aulos Bioscience, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, highlighting the potential of Bavencio's distinct profile to complement AU-007's mechanism of action. AU-007, the first human IgG1 monoclonal antibody designed using artificial intelligence to enter clinical trials, has shown promising anti-cancer activity in preclinical studies.
The ongoing Phase 1/2 study of AU-007 is currently enrolling patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic cancer at various clinical trial sites in the United States and Australia. Interim data from the Phase 1 portion of the study suggest encouraging signs of anti-tumor activity, with AU-007 demonstrating a unique ability to decrease regulatory T cells (Tregs) and eosinophils.
Aulos intends to present additional Phase 1 data and preliminary Phase 2 data, focusing on melanoma and renal cell carcinoma, at an upcoming medical conference. Patient enrollment for the Phase 2 cohort, investigating Bavencio with AU-007 and aldesleukin, is expected to commence in the latter half of 2024.
AU-007 stands out as a computationally designed, human IgG1 monoclonal antibody with a mechanism of action unlike other IL-2 therapeutics. By selectively targeting the CD25-binding portion of IL-2, AU-007 reinforces anti-tumor immune effects while minimizing adverse effects associated with IL-2 therapy.
For further information about the AU-007 Phase 1/2 clinical trial program and study locations, please refer to ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier: NCT05267626), as well as the dedicated websites for the United States and Australia.
Source: businesswire.com
