
Bristol is no Lag3-ard
The giveaway about Bristol Myers Squibb’s bullishness on its anti-Lag3 MAb relatlimab came in 2016, when it unveiled a clinical programme comprising nearly 2,000 patients. Such faith was rewarded today when a key phase 3 study, Relativity-047, read out positively. True, this was in front-line melanoma, a relatively well-served cancer and not the biggest of all oncology indications, and the win was on progression-free survival; overall survival data are as yet immature. But Bristol should be congratulated for running a clearly designed head-to-head trial, in which relatlimab plus Opdivo beat Opdivo alone. Assuming that the data translate into an OS benefit, and that no serious toxicities emerge, a best-case scenario would give Bristol a brand new immuno-oncology strategy in Lag3 inhibition, which the group might conceivably use to replace its active but toxic CTLA-4 blocker Yervoy. Other groups developing Lag3-targeting assets will also take note; one of these is Australia’s Immutep, whose founder and chief medical officer is Frédéric Triebel, who back in 1988 first cloned Lag3. Immutep stock traded up 30% this morning.
Selected clinical stage oncology projects targeting Lag3 | ||
---|---|---|
Project | Company | Mechanism |
Phase 3 | ||
Relatlimab | Bristol-Myers Squibb | Anti-Lag3 MAb |
Phase 2 | ||
Ieramilimab (IMP701) | Immutep/Novartis | Anti-Lag3 MAb |
INCAGN2385 | Incyte | Anti-Lag3 MAb |
MK-4280 | Merck & Co | Anti-Lag3 MAb |
BI 754111 | Boehringer Ingelheim | Anti-Lag3 MAb |
REGN3767 | Regeneron | Anti-Lag3 MAb |
Tebotelimab | Macrogenics | Anti-Lag3xPD-1 bispecific MAb |
Eftilagimod alpha | Immutep | Soluble dimeric recombinant Lag3 |
Phase 1 | ||
TSR-033 | Glaxosmithkline/Anaptysbio | Anti-Lag3 MAb |
Sym022 | Symphogen | Anti-Lag3 MAb |
IBI110 | Innovent Biologics | Anti-Lag3 bispecific MAb |
RG6139 | Roche | Anti-Lag3xPD-1 bispecific MAb |
FS118 | F-star Therapeutics | Anti-Lag3xPD-1 bispecific MAb |
XmAb22841 | Xencor | Anti-Lag3xCTLA-4 bispecific MAb |
Source: Evaluate Pharma. |