Suzhou-based Innovent Biologics Inc. will test treating solid tumors with its PD-1 class of checkpoint inhibitor Tyvyt, or sintilimab, with Hutchison China MediTech Ltd.'s cancer drug surufatinib.
The two companies will conduct clinical studies for the combination in China and the U.S, according to a release by Innovent and Hutchison China MediTech, or Chi-Med, on Oct. 10.
Chi-Med's surufatinib is in late-stage clinical trials in China for indications such as neuroendocrine tumors and biliary tract cancer, while Innovent's Tyvyt has received approval to treat patients with classical Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, in China. Innovent is also conducting more than 20 clinical studies for Tyvyt in other cancers.
Tyvyt, co-developed by Innovent and Eli Lilly and Co., belongs to a class of immunotherapy that aims to treat cancer by boosting the body's immune system through blocking interactions between T cells and cancer cells.
Surufatinib regulates cancer-associated enzymes and enhances the body's immune system to treat cancer. "All of which could contribute to improve anti-tumor activity of Tyvyt," the Oct. 10 release said.
The two companies have already formed ties to test the combination of Tyvyt and Chi-Med's fruquintinib.
"The future of oncology treatments increasingly lies in combining therapies, utilizing multiple mechanisms of action to greatly improve the treatment of solid tumors," Chi-Med CEO Christian Hogg said in the release.
