French biotechnology company Nanobiotix has treated the first patient in a Phase I/II study of radiotherapy-activated NBTXR3 in combination with anti-PD-1/L-1 immune checkpoint inhibitors to treat advanced solid tumour malignancies.

The study is being carried out as part of an ongoing strategic collaboration with the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

The partners are evaluating the combination therapy in patients with advanced solid tumour malignancies that have spread to the lungs and liver.

Nanobiotix chief clinical and medical affairs officer Leonard Farber said: “Fundamental in the effort to bring the potential benefits of NBTXR3 to millions of patients around the world is an expansive development programme that pushes the scientific boundaries of oncology.

“This collaboration expands the development of NBTXR3 across solid tumour indications, therapeutic combinations and treatment modalities in parallel with studies led by Nanobiotix.

“We are pleased with the momentum we continue to build in our programme and look forward to the opportunity to bring NBTXR3 to more patients.”

NBTXR3 is a novel oncology product that consists of functionalised hafnium oxide nanoparticles.

The drug is administered via a one-time intratumoral injection and activated by radiotherapy.

Nanobiotix said NBTXR3 could be scalable across any solid tumour that can be treated with radiotherapy due to its physical mechanism of action.

Nanobiotix and the Anderson Cancer Center have planned several other clinical trials of NBTXR3, including a Phase II study of the drug combined with anti-PD-1 in patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer.

Other studies will include Phase I trials involving patients with pancreatic cancer and in combination with chemotherapy for oesophageal cancer.

In 2021, Nanobiotix signed an agreement with LianBio to expand the development of NBTXR3 into Greater China and other markets in Asia.

Earlier this year, the company partnered with Janssen Pharmaceutica for the co-development and commercialisation of NBTXR3 worldwide.