The Genmab-developed cancer drug Darzalex continues to attract the attention of major players, and its partner Janssen has now struck a new deal with leading immuno-oncology player Bristol-Myers Squibb.

The deal will see Darzalex (daratumumab) paired with BMS’ PD-1 inhibitor Opdivo (nivolumab) in phase Ib/2 trials in multiple myeloma and a range of solid tumors. The studies will be sponsored by BMS.

"The development program for daratumumab continues to rapidly expand and we look forward to the start of these new studies in combination with nivolumab, and in particular, to seeing what impact the combination of these two immunomodulatory antibodies have in treating multiple myeloma and various solid tumors," says Genmab CEO Jan van de Winkel according to a press release.

In November last year, Genmab announced that another US-based group, Amgen, would launch a phase III study with Darzalex and its own multiple myeloma treatment Kyprolis this year. Multiple myeloma is a type of bone marrow cancer against which both of those drugs have been approved.

At the time Sydbank analyst Søren Løntoft Hansen said the deal showed rivals are no longer trying to compete with Darzalex, but are now resigned to the fact that the Genmab-developed drug is bound to become the backbone of treatment in the indication – a sentiment which was unsurprisingly mirrored by Jan van de Winkel.

The latest deal means BMS will evaluate the safety, tolerability and clinical benefit of Darzalex in combination with Opdivo in patients with advanced or metastatic tumors including non-small cell lung, head and neck, pancreatic, colorectal, and triple negative breast cancers - and possibly additional tumor types.

The multiple myeloma study will evaluate the safety and tolerability of the combo with or without pomalidomide – marketed as Imnovid and Pomalyst by Celgene - and steroid medication dexamethasone in relapsed-refractory multiple myeloma, Genmab says. Those studies are expected to start this year.

Darzalex was also added to the mix in one of BMS’ studies with Opdivo in multiple myeloma last year, a study that is still ongoing. 

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- translated by Martin Havtorn Petersen

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