French biopharma Pierre Fabre and pharma giant Roche are extending their collaborative effort on the development of Fabre’s antibody drug conjugate candidate that targets insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) receptors.
Dubbed W0101, the candidate is currently in phase 1/2 clinical studies in patients with relapsed or refractory solid tumors. The first in-human trials began last year at sites in France and Spain.
Fabre and Roche began working together on the development of a robust prototype immunohistochemistry assay as a future companion diagnostic test for W0101, the company said. The two extended the collaboration for the retrospective determination of IGF-1R expression in patients enrolled in the study.
The collaboration “is an important step in advancing this novel therapeutic option for cancer patients whose tumors overexpress IGF-1R,” Alexandre Passioukov, M.D., Ph.D., vice president for translational medicine at Pierre Fabre Research Institute, said in a statement (PDF). “It is noteworthy that the IGR-1R antibody used in the diagnostic assay binds a different epitope than the antibody from the therapeutic construct, both developed by Pierre Fabre Research Institute.”
W0101, which targets the IGF-1 receptor, is designed for the treatment of patients with tumors overexpressing IGF-1R and is currently being tested in a phase 1 clinical trial.
Last year, Fabre boosted its cancer pipeline when it snapped up California-based Igenica Biotherapeutics for an undisclosed price. The acquisition reinforced Fabre’s pipeline in oncology, its primary R&D focus area, and brought Igenica’s expertise in mAbs and immuno-conjugates into the fold.