AstraZeneca and Incyte Corp. have partnered to launch a clinical trial of a possible second line treatment for patients living with EGFR mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who were previously treated with a first generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) and developed the T790M resistance mutation.
Incyte is a Delaware-based pharmaceutical company. AstraZeneca, of London, is the world's seventh largest pharmaceutical and biologics company.
The trial will see patients treated with a combination of Incyte’s Janus-associated kinase (JAK) 1 inhibitor, INCB39110 and AstraZeneca’s next generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor, Tagrisso (osimertinib).
“We are pleased to be building on our existing relationship with Incyte and exploring a potentially exciting combination for lung cancer patients who have developed a resistance to first generation EGFR inhibitor treatment," Antoine Yver, head of oncology and global medicines development at AstraZeneca, said. "This collaboration allows us to explore further ways in which Tagrisso, our first-in-class T790M-directed tyrosine kinase inhibitor, can help meet urgent unmet patient need."
The first phase of the trial will be conducted by researchers from Incyte. During this phase, dosing regimens will be established. During the second phase of the trial, the combination of the two therapies will be tested for safety and effectiveness.
The results of the two-phase study will determine whether or not the combination will move toward further clinical development.
“The expansion of our research collaboration with AstraZeneca will allow us to further our understanding of these two compounds and explore their potential synergies which support our goal of delivering innovative medicines that will benefit patients with cancer or other diseases," Dr. Rich Levy, chief drug development officer at Incyte, said.
