Coherus and STORM Partner to Test STC-15 with LOQTORZI (toripalimab)

Coherus BioSciences, Inc. has announced a collaboration with STORM Therapeutics, Ltd. to explore the efficacy of STC-15, a METTL3 inhibitor, used alongside LOQTORZI, a next-generation PD-1 inhibitor, in a clinical trial aimed at treating diverse cancer types. The Phase 1b/2 study is targeting non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), melanoma, and endometrial cancer. The dosing of the first patient in this trial marks a significant milestone in this partnership.

Theresa LaVallee, Ph.D., who is the Chief Scientific and Development Officer at Coherus, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration. She articulated that this strategic alliance exemplifies their approach of extending the application of LOQTORZI beyond nasopharyngeal carcinoma. This involves efficient drug supply partnerships and experimenting with LOQTORZI alongside innovative mechanisms in prioritized cancer types like NSCLC and HNSCC.

The Phase 1b segment of the study is designed to assess the safety and effectiveness of combining STC-15 and LOQTORZI. Following this, the Phase 2 portion will expand into exploration cohorts involving NSCLC, HNSCC, endometrial cancer, and melanoma. This trial plans to enroll up to 188 patients across the United States.

According to the clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement, Coherus will supply LOQTORZI to STORM, who will take on the role of the sponsor for the Phase 1b/2 clinical trial. Both companies will maintain commercial rights to their respective compounds, applicable as either monotherapies or combination therapies.

Coherus BioSciences positions itself as a commercial-stage oncology company with a promising trajectory. It is recognized for its approved PD-1 inhibitor, LOQTORZI, which is contributing to growing revenues. The company's strategy emphasizes increasing LOQTORZI sales in nasopharyngeal carcinoma while simultaneously pursuing clinical development of LOQTORZI in combination with other candidates from both their pipeline and partners, thus boosting sales and creating synergies from proprietary combinations.

The company’s pipeline in immuno-oncology is robust, featuring several antibody immunotherapy candidates that aim to enhance both innate and adaptive immune responses. This is intended to foster a strong antitumor response and improve patient outcomes in cancer treatments. Among these candidates is Casdozokitug, an innovative IL-27 antagonistic antibody currently being tested in numerous Phase 1/2 and Phase 2 trials with patients suffering from advanced solid tumors, including NSCLC and hepatocellular carcinoma. Additionally, CHS-114, a selective anti-CCR8 antibody, is being evaluated in Phase 1b studies for advanced solid tumors such as HNSCC and gastric cancer.

This pioneering collaboration between Coherus and STORM Therapeutics represents a proactive step in cancer treatment advancement, leveraging the strengths of both organizations to potentially deliver improved therapeutic options for patients battling various forms of cancer.