Shenzhen, China, September 28, 2022 - Shenzhen IONOVA Life Science Co., Ltd. announces today that the first patient was dosed in a Phase Ib combination trial of its EP4 inhibitor INV-1120 in combination with MSD’s (Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ., USA) anti-PD-1 therapy KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) in patients with advanced solid tumors.
According to Dr. Johannes Nippgen, Chief Medical Officer of IONOVA, “We are very excited about the first patient treated in our first combination trial of INV-1120 with KEYTRUDA®. INV-1120 is a highly selective and differentiated molecule that selectively blocks EP4 receptor signaling to suppress tumor development and progression and has previously shown highly promising activity in combination with anti PD-1 in preclinical solid tumor models. Now we have the opportunity to confirm this for INV-1120 in combination with KEYTRUDA® in cancer patients.”
According to Dr. Amita Patnaik, MD, FRCPC, PI of the trial and Co-Director of Clinical Research START (San Antonio, Texas), “advanced cancer patients continue to seek novel combination treatments that can improve treatment outcomes. We look forward to evaluating this combination treatment in our patients.”
KEYTRUDA® is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA.
About INV-1120
INV-1120 is a highly potent, highly selective, and orally available EP4 antagonist designed to modulate the tumor microenvironment. EP4 antagonist has shown to increase T cell infiltration and the level of M1 type macrophage in tumors, contributing to increased immune response in preclinical tumor models.
About IONOVA
IONOVA is a clinical-stage biotech company focused on the discovery and development of innovative cancer medicines especially targeted- and immuno-therapies.
