BMS, Innate say no plans to table lirilumab just yet

Innate Pharma S.A. (Euronext:IPH) confirmed that discussions with partner Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE:BMY) remain ongoing regarding next steps for cancer compound lirilumab (BMS-986015, IPH2102). In November, Innate said efficacy data from a Phase I/II trial of lirilumab in combination with BMS's Opdivo nivolumab to treat head and neck cancers "did not provide clear evidence of benefit to patients or an obvious development path" (see BioCentury, Dec. 1, 2017).

Innate's CEO Mondher Mahjoubi told BioCentury that while BMS had initially planned to begin a pivotal trial for the combination, the pharma has since deprioritized its development of lirilumab while it and Innate engage in discussions "to better understand the science." Mahjoubi said the activity observed in preclinical and clinical studies supports lirilumab's mechanism of action, but is not strong enough, so the partners need to go back to the drawing board to explore the right dosing regimen and combination therapy...