Array BioPharma has announced that it has entered into a clinical trial collaboration agreement with Pfizer to investigate the safety and efficacy of several novel anti-cancer combinations, including Array's MEK inhibitor, binimetinib, with Pfizer's investigational PARP inhibitor talazoparib, and avelumab*, a human anti-PD-L1 IgG1 monoclonal antibody.

The companies are entering into this collaboration to explore the potential benefits of combining molecularly targeted therapeutics with the body's innate cancer-fighting abilities using immunotherapy.

Ron Squarer, Chief Executive Officer, Array BioPharma said, “Array is excited to announce this partnership with Pfizer, an established global leader in Oncology therapeutics. These novel approaches combining targeted therapy and immunotherapy hold great potential to help patients fighting cancer in different indications, with an initial main focus on lung and pancreatic cancer."

Chris Boshoff, Senior Vice President and Head of Immuno-Oncology, Early Development and Translational Oncology, Pfizer Global Product Development said, “Preclinical data indicate that combining binimetinib with an immune checkpoint inhibitor and talazoparib could be a rational combination to test in the clinic. We are looking forward to initiating the clinical studies with Array BioPharma to explore anti-tumor activity across various novel combination strategies, including both doublet and triplet approaches."

Under the terms of the agreement, Array and Pfizer will collaborate on a Phase 1b clinical trial to explore a series of novel combinations, investigating the safety and efficacy of the combination of binimetinib, avelumab and talazoparib across various tumor types. A multi-arm clinical trial is expected to establish recommended doses of different regimens combining the drugs.

Initially the focus will be in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and pancreatic cancer, and additional indications will be explored at a later stage. The study is expected to begin by the third quarter of 2018, and results will be used to determine optimal approaches to further clinical development of these combinations.

Under the collaboration agreement, the trial will be sponsored and funded by Pfizer, with Array providing binimetinib supply.

Avelumab is jointly developed by Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany and Pfizer. Avelumab is under clinical investigation for treatment of NSCLC and pancreatic cancer and has not been demonstrated to be safe and effective for these indications. There is no guarantee that avelumab will be approved for these indications by any health authority worldwide.