Genentech starts Phase Ib/II evaluating immunotherapy-based combos for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

The Genentech Inc. unit of Roche (SIX:ROG; OTCQX:RHHBY) began an open-label, international Phase Ib/II trial to evaluate multiple immunotherapy-based combinations with PD-L1 inhibitor Tecentriq atezolizumab (MPDL3280A, RG7446) compared to chemotherapy with gemcitabine plus Abraxane nab-paclitaxel or modified FOLFOX6 in about 185 patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Patients will receive chemotherapy or IV Tecentriq in combination with PEGPH20, BL-8040 or Cotellic cobimetinib (GDC-0973, RG7421). PEGPH20 is a recombinant human PH20 hyaluronidase enzyme conjugated to polyethylene glycol from Halozyme Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:HALO). BL-8040 is a CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4; NPY3R) antagonist from BioLineRx Ltd. (Tel Aviv:BLRX; NASDAQ:BLRX) and Biokine Therapeutics Ltd. (Rehovot, Israel). Cotellic is a MAP kinase kinase 1 (MAP2K1; MEK1) and MEK2 inhibitor to which Genentech has rights from Exelixis Inc. (NASDAQ:EXEL)...