Singapore: Japan's Kyowa Hakko Kirin and Bristol-Myers Squibb have entered into a clinical trial collaboration agreement to conduct a Phase 1/2 combination study with mogamulizumab, an anti-CCR4 antibody and Opdivo (nivolumab), a PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor.

The study, to be conducted in the US, will focus on evaluating the safety, tolerability and anti-tumor activity of combining mogamulizumab and Opdivo as a potential treatment option for patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors.

Prior to this agreement, Kyowa Hakko Kirin, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Ono Pharmaceutical entered into a clinical trial collaboration agreement to study the combination of mogamulizumab and Opdivo in Japan.

Mogamulizumab and Opdivo are part of a new class of cancer treatments known as immunotherapies, which are designed to harness the body's own immune system in fighting cancer by targeting distinct regulatory components of the immune system.

"We are pleased to conduct a combination study with Bristol-Myers Squibb not only in Japan but also in the US," said Yoichi Sato, director of the board managing executive officer, vice president, head of research and development division of Kyowa Hakko Kirin. "We believe that the planned combination of these two immunotherapies has the potential to deliver better outcomes in patients with advanced cancers than existing treatments."

"Thes agreement builds on our initial collaboration with Kyowa Hakko Kirin in Japan, which includes our partner Ono Pharmaceutical and is the latest example of our continued commitment to evaluating the potential of combination immuno-oncology regimens for patients with metastatic cancer," stated Mr Michael Giordano, senior vice president, head of development, Oncology, Bristol-Myers Squibb.