Medicenna Therapeutics (MDNA) announced initiation of enrollment in the combination arm of the Phase 1/2 ABILITY study evaluating MDNA11, a long-acting, “beta-enhanced not-alpha” interleukin-2 super-agonist, with Merck’s(MRK) pembrolizumab. The combination portion of the study is being conducted as part of the previously announced Clinical Trial Supply and Collaboration Agreement1 between Medicenna and Merck and is designed to evaluate the potential for a synergistic effect of MDNA11 with KEYTRUDA(R) in patients with advanced solid tumors. In the Phase 1 monotherapy dose escalation and dose evaluation portions of the study, MDNA11 was well tolerated with promising single-agent activity. As of the data cutoff date of October 26, 2023, responses included: one confirmed durable and deep partial response in a heavily pretreated patient with metastatic pancreatic cancer and primary resistance to checkpoint inhibitor therapy, one deep unconfirmed partial response in a patient with cutaneous melanoma with secondary resistance to CPI, both of whom continue on therapy and, multiple patients with extended stable disease and/or target lesion reductions.
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