DF9001 is currently being evaluated as a
monotherapy for the treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Renal
Cell Carcinoma and Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. The
clinical trial collaboration will focus on evaluating the
investigational combination in second line Renal Cell Carcinoma and
second line Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
WALTHAM, Mass., May 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Dragonfly
Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical stage biotechnology company
developing novel immunotherapies, today announced that it has
entered into a clinical collaboration with Merck (known as MSD
outside the US and Canada), to evaluate DF9001, Dragonfly's
EGFR immune engager, in combination with Merck's anti-PD-1
therapy, KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab), in patients
with advanced solid tumors expressing EGFR.
"Merck, a trusted leader in drug development, has been a
wonderful collaborator with Dragonfly since we signed our first
collaboration agreement in 2018," said Bill Haney, co-founder
and CEO of Dragonfly Therapeutics. "We are pleased to enter
into this agreement with Merck for our ongoing, investigational
Phase 1 trial of DF9001. In preclinical models, DF9001 engages
multiple immune effector cells to drive anti-tumor activity and
induces PD-L1 expression in tumor cells, sensitizing cold tumors to
checkpoint inhibitors. We are hopeful that DF9001 in combination
with KEYTRUDA will drive potent anti-tumor activity in a broad
range of indications and are excited to further accelerate
progress in the clinic to benefit patients in need."
Dragonfly is the study sponsor and first patients are expected
to receive DF9001 in combination with pembrolizumab in Q4 2024.
Clinical trial sites are currently open for monotherapy dosing in
the U.S., with additional sites in North
America and Europe expected
to open in 2024. Additional information about the trial, including
eligibility criteria, can be found
at: https://clinicaltrials.gov (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT 05597839).
KEYTRUDA® is a registered trademark of Merck
Sharp & Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc.,
Rahway, NJ, USA.
About DF9001
DF9001 is an investigational
first-in-class multi-specific drug candidate that targets EGFR and
potently redirects natural killer (NK) cells, gamma-delta T cells,
and CD8 T cells by engaging activating receptors NKG2D and CD16.
DF9001 was discovered and developed using Dragonfly's
TriNKET® platform. DF9001 is being evaluated in
adult patients for the treatment of advanced solid EGFR-positive
tumors. DF9001 has the potential to stimulate anti-tumor immunity
in patients who are not eligible or not adequately responding to
current therapies. DF9001 is the second wholly owned drug candidate
in a pipeline of TriNKETs that Dragonfly is developing to address
high unmet needs for patients across a broad range of disease
areas.
About Dragonfly
Dragonfly Therapeutics is a
clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to discovering,
developing and commercializing novel therapies that harness the
body's immune system to bring breakthrough treatments to patients.
In addition to a set of advanced programs in the clinic, Dragonfly
has a deep pipeline of wholly owned preclinical candidates
discovered using its proprietary platforms that are progressing
toward the clinic, as well as productive collaborations with
AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, Gilead and Merck in a broad range of
disease areas.
For more information visit:
www.dragonflytx.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/dragonfly-therapeutics-inc./
https://twitter.com/dragonflytx
DRAGONFLY MEDIA CONTACT:
Anne E. Deconinck |
anne@dragonflytx.com
Logo -
https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/390962/Dragonfly_Therapeutics_Logo.jpg
View original
content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/dragonfly-therapeutics-inc-announces-clinical-collaboration-to-evaluate-df9001-an-egfr-targeting-trinket-in-combination-with-keytruda-pembrolizumab-in-patients-with-solid-tumors-302150800.html