BMS and Celgene Announce Collaboration on An Immuno-Chemo Combination Regimen

Bristol-Myers Squibb ($BMY) and Celgene ($CELG) are joining forces on a cancer combination treatment, testing the former's highly anticipated immunotherapy in tandem with an on-the-market chemo drug against a host of tumor targets.

The plan is to launch a Phase I study pairing Bristol-Myers' nivolumab, a cancer treatment designed to bring about the death of tumor cells by blocking a pathway called PD-1; and Celgene's Abraxane, an injectable form of the chemotherapy paclitaxel already approved to treat pancreatic, prostate, breast and lung cancers.

The hope is that combining nivolumab's effect on the immune system with Abraxane's ability to halt cancer cell division will result in a therapy greater than the sum of its parts, the companies said, and they plan to kick off their trial in the fourth quarter of this year. Among their targets are HER-2 negative metastatic breast cancer, pancreatic cancer and non-small cell lung cancer.

Associated press release: http://bit.ly/VFBXbc

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Source: Fierce Biotech