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Companies collaborate to evaluate immunotherapy regimen for colorectal cancer

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Three companies — eFFECTOR Therapeutics, Pfizer and Merck KGaA — entered a clinical collaboration to evaluate the combination of eFT508 and avelumab for patients with microsatellite stable colorectal cancer.

eFT508 (eFFECTOR Therapeutics) is a highly selective oral inhibitor of MNK1/2 kinases that mediate tumor immune evasion and are activated downstream of MEK and MAPK signaling.

An open-label, randomized, noncomparative phase 2 study will evaluate eFT508 as monotherapy and in combination with avelumab (Bavencio, EMD Serono) — a human programmed death ligand-1 blocking antibody — for the treatment of patients with microsatellite stable relapsed or refractory colorectal cancer.

“We believe eFT508, our lead program, is a promising new immuno-oncology drug candidate that could significantly improve patient response in combination with checkpoint inhibitors,” Steve Worland, PhD, president and CEO of eFFECTOR, said in a company-issued press release. “We are very pleased to be working with Pfizer and Merck KGaA ... given their demonstrated commitment to develop avelumab as a leading checkpoint inhibitor and their deep knowledge in the field of immuno-oncology.”

Preclinical data showed eFT508 monotherapy demonstrated antitumor immunity and immune memory. The agent acted synergistically in combination with checkpoint inhibitors, according to the press release.

“eFFECTOR's approach in targeting selective translation regulators is unique, and eFT508 represents a promising novel class of investigational compounds for the treatment of cancer,” Chris Boshoff, MD, PhD, senior vice president and head of immuno-oncology, early development and translational oncology at Pfizer Global Product Development, said in the release. “Given the preclinical data already developed with eFT508 and checkpoint inhibitors, we are excited to initiate this joint clinical collaboration.”

The study, expected to begin this year, will be conducted by eFFECTOR Therapeutics.