Israeli company BioLineRx has started a Phase Ib/II clinical trial of its BL-8040 in combination with Roche Group subsidiary Genentech’s atezolizumab (Tecentriq) to treat pancreatic cancer.  

BL-8040 is a short peptide antagonist of CXCR4 chemokine receptor involved in tumour progression, angiogenesis, metastasis and cell survival, while atezolizumab is a humanised monoclonal antibody that blocks interactions by binding to PD-L1 in tumour cells and tumour infiltrating immune cells.

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The multi-centre, randomised, controlled, open-label Phase Ib/II trial is designed to recruit around 40 metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients.

The trial will investigate the safety, tolerability, clinical response and various pharmacodynamic parameters of the combination therapy.

"L-8040 has been shown to have robust mobilisation of immune cells, improve the infiltration of T cells into solid tumours, and affect the immunosuppressive tumour micro-environment."

BioLineRx CEO Philip Serlin said: "BL-8040 has been shown to have robust mobilisation of immune cells, improve the infiltration of T cells into solid tumours, and affect the immunosuppressive tumour micro-environment.

“We are therefore hopeful that combining atezolizumab with BL-8040 can lead to a significant advancement in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, and of other solid tumours that are difficult to treat.”

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Part of Roche's cancer immunotherapy development platform Morpheus, the new trial will involve administration of BL-8040 injections as monotherapy for initial five days, followed by BL-8040 and atezolizumab combination from day eight for approximately two years.

In September last year, BioLineRx and Genentech formed a cancer immunotherapy collaboration to investigate BL-8040 and atezolizumab combination in multiple Phase Ib/II trials for various types of cancer. 

Image: Histopathogic image of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Photo: courtesy of KGH. 

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