Fotivda, Imfinzi combination trial for liver cancer begins enrollment

AVEO Oncology initiated enrollment in an early trial of a combination therapy using Fotivda and Imfinzi for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma with no prior systemic therapy, according to a press release.

“HCC is the fastest rising cause of cancer-related death in the U.S., driven by prevalent diseases that include hepatitis B and C, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and obesity. With 5-year survival at approximately 26%, there remains a desperate need for new therapeutic options,” Michael Bailey, president and CEO of AVEO, said in the release.

Fotivda (tivozanib, AEVO) is an oral, once-daily, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) approved for the treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma in the European Union, Norway, New Zealand and Iceland.

Imfinzi (durvalumab, AstraZeneca) is a human monoclonal antibody that binds to PD-L1 and blocks the interaction of PD-L1 with PD-1 and CD80. Durvalumab was also approved for treatment-experienced patients with advanced bladder cancer in U.S. and nine other countries.

The phase 1b/2 trial will comprise approximately 50 patients who will receive tivozanib 1 mg for 21 days followed by durvalumab 1,500 mg for 7 days every 28 days.

“VEGF TKIs and immunotherapy represent current standard of care monotherapies for advanced HCC, and we believe that the combination of tivozanib and durvalumab, both of which have demonstrated single agent activity in HCC, holds great promise as a potential new treatment option for this patient population,” Bailey added.

Reference: www.aveooncology.com