Bavarian Nordic announces collaboration to evaluate CV301 and Tecentriq in bladder cancer

Collaboration is the second to evaluate a combination of CV301 with a checkpoint inhibitor.

Bavarian Nordic has announced an agreement with F. Hoffmann-La Roche  (Roche) whereby Roche has agreed to supply their PD-L1 blocking antibody Tecentriq (atezolizumab) for a clinical study combining Bavarian Nordic's cancer vaccine, CV301, and Tecentriq  in patients with urothelial carcinoma, or bladder cancer.

Bavarian Nordic plans to conduct a Phase II study in patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) who have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy or have disease progression within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment with platinum-containing chemotherapy, a patient population where Tecentriq has accelerated approval in the US. CV301 is designed to generate a T cell response to both CEA and MUC1, two tumour antigens that are highly over expressed in bladder cancers. This study will evaluate the hypothesis that combining a checkpoint inhibitor with a cancer vaccine such as CV301 could be synergistic by enhancing the immune response seen in this patient population to date. The study is anticipated to initiate around the end of 2017.

"In keeping with our strategy to expand the potential of CV301, we are extremely pleased to enter into this collaboration with Roche. This represents our second collaboration in the advancement of CV301 as combination therapy in multiple cancers. We look forward to the initiation of this study and to explore the potential synergy of our programs for the benefit of patients with bladder cancer," said Paul Chaplin, President and CEO of Bavarian Nordic. 

Under the terms of the agreement, Roche has committed to supplying Tecentriq to Bavarian Nordic during the Phase II trial. Bavarian Nordic will be responsible for conducting the clinical trial, and both companies will share data from the trial. Bavarian Nordic continues to retain all commercial rights to CV301.