At the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago last week, Pfizer presented the results of a dose-escalation study evaluating the overall safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and anti-tumour activity of utomilumab, in combination with pembrolizumab (Keytruda), in patients (n~23) with advanced solid tumours, including non-small cell lung cancer, renal cell carcinoma, head and neck cancers, pancreatic cancer, anaplastic thyroid cancer, small-cell lung cancer, colon cancer, sarcoma, thymoma and melanoma.

Data from the study revealed that two patients – one with small cell lung cancer and the other with renal cell carcinoma – had a complete response to utomilumab. In addition, partial responses were observed in four patients – one each with renal cell carcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer, head and neck cancer and anaplastic thyroid cancer. Adverse events related to treatment were mild and not dose-dependent. Moreover, no dose-limiting toxicity was reported.

Utomilumab is being studied for various solid tumours and haematological cancers in combination with other immunotherapies.

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