AstraZeneca, Daiichi Sankyo and Summit to study Datroway plus ivonescimab across multiple cancers

AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo have entered a clinical collaboration with Summit Therapeutics to evaluate Datroway, also known as datopotamab deruxtecan, in combination with ivonescimab across several tumour types.

The companies plan to begin the collaboration with a Phase III study in first line triple negative breast cancer, with additional development planned in other cancers including lung cancer.

Datroway is a TROP2 directed DXd antibody drug conjugate discovered by Daiichi Sankyo and jointly developed and commercialised with AstraZeneca.

Ivonescimab is an investigational bispecific antibody designed to combine immune checkpoint inhibition through PD 1 blockade with anti angiogenic activity through VEGF inhibition in a single molecule.

Susan Galbraith, Executive Vice President of Oncology Haematology Research and Development at AstraZeneca, said the company’s strategy includes combining immunotherapies with antibody drug conjugates to try to achieve deeper and more durable responses.

She said the Datroway and ivonescimab combination could have potential across several tumour types, including breast and lung cancers.

Maky Zanganeh, President and Co Chief Executive Officer of Summit Therapeutics, said the agreement reflects growing interest in ivonescimab as a potential next generation immunotherapy partner for combination treatments.

She said starting with a Phase III trial in first line triple negative breast cancer expands Summit’s global development programme into breast cancer and could support further studies in other solid tumours.

John Tsai, Global Head of Research and Development at Daiichi Sankyo, said the collaboration forms part of the company’s strategy to maximise the potential of its DXd antibody drug conjugate portfolio through new combinations.

He said evaluating Datroway with ivonescimab could provide another opportunity to improve outcomes for patients.

Under the agreement, each company will provide its respective medicine for the planned combination trials.

The studies will be sponsored by AstraZeneca or Daiichi Sankyo, while AstraZeneca, Daiichi Sankyo and Summit will each contribute to trial costs.

Each company will retain development and commercial rights to its own treatment.

The agreement follows a recently announced equity investment by AstraZeneca in Summit.

AstraZeneca said the investment will partly support clinical collaborations involving ivonescimab, including the Datroway programme.

The company also has a separate agreement with Summit evaluating ivonescimab in combination with sonesitatug vedotin and plans to explore further combinations with additional AstraZeneca cancer medicines, including other antibody drug conjugates.

Ivonescimab is already approved in China for certain patients with non small cell lung cancer.

A Biologics License Application seeking U.S. approval in EGFR mutated NSCLC is also under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The therapy is currently being studied in Phase III programmes across several cancers, including non small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer, biliary tract cancer, bladder cancer, triple negative breast cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, colorectal cancer and pancreatic cancer.

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Related Topics and Keywords

ADC, AstraZeneca, bispecific antibodies, clinical collaboration, Daiichi Sankyo, datopotamab deruxtecan, Datroway, Ivonescimab, lung cancer, Oncology, pharma news, Summit Therapeutics, tnbc