LAVA Therapeutics N.V. (NASDAQ: LVTX), a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company concentrating on its proprietary Gammabody® platform for bispecific gamma delta T cell engagers, has announced a notable development. Pfizer has achieved a clinical milestone for PF-08046052 (formerly SGN-EGFRd2/LAVA-1223), triggering a $7 million payment to LAVA. This follows LAVA's granting of an exclusive global license for PF-08046052 to Seagen (acquired by Pfizer) in September 2022.
Stephen Hurly, President and CEO of LAVA, expressed satisfaction with Pfizer's clinical development initiation of PF-08046052, noting its promising potential in oncology and its importance in advancing LAVA’s Gammabody® platform. He anticipates continued progress in the Phase 1 study and future data updates.
Charles Morris, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of LAVA, remarked that this milestone marks the third use of LAVA’s Gammabody® platform entering clinical trials. The ongoing study will expand the understanding of the safety, pharmacology, and possible anti-tumor effects of this novel class of molecules. He highlighted the progress of both PF-08046052 and LAVA-1207, the latter currently in a Phase 1/2a study for prostate cancer.
PF-08046052 is designed to selectively activate Vγ9Vδ2 T cells to target and kill EGFR-positive tumor cells. It is under evaluation in a current Phase 1 study by Pfizer, under a broader licensing agreement. The agreement included a $50 million upfront payment and allows for potential milestone payments of up to $650 million, plus sales royalties.
LAVA Therapeutics focuses on using its Gammabody® platform to develop treatments for both solid tumors and blood cancers. The company’s leading program, LAVA-1207, is under investigation in a dose-escalation study for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer in the US and Europe, exploring both monotherapy and combination treatments, including the potential addition of KEYTRUDA® via partnership with Merck & Co., Inc.
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