CBI "Kineta Signs Clinical Trial Agreement with MSD for Keytruda Combination"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hyowon] CBI announced on the 18th that Kineta, a US new drug development company it invested in, has signed a clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement with the global pharmaceutical company MSD (Merck & Company).

Under this agreement, Kineta will evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and anticancer efficacy of the immuno-oncology drug 'KVA12123', which targets the immune checkpoint 'VISTA' in patients with advanced solid tumors, in combination with MSD's immuno-oncology drug Keytruda (active ingredient pembrolizumab). Kineta will also conduct a monotherapy clinical trial of KVA12123. The clinical trial started in the fourth quarter of this year, and initial results are planned to be announced by the end of 2023.

VISTA is a key driver that suppresses immunity in the tumor microenvironment. VISTA is overexpressed after immune checkpoint inhibitors lead to treatment failure and poor prognosis in cancer patients. KVA12123 is a human-optimized IgG1 monoclonal antibody designed to bind to VISTA through a unique epitope at physiological and acidic pH levels. Various preclinical studies have shown that KVA12123 has potential anticancer efficacy both as a monotherapy and when administered with PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Sean Patrick Idinato, CEO of Kineta, said, "Previously, the use of PD-1 inhibitors as monotherapy or in combination with other treatments was the first-line recommended therapy, but treatment options were limited for patients who did not respond or relapsed. KVA12123 has the potential to become the best VISTA-blocking immuno-oncology drug by promoting strong anticancer efficacy and targeting various solid tumors."

Meanwhile, the global immuno-oncology market is expected to grow 17.0%, from $60.32 billion in 2021 to $70.59 billion in 2022.

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