Trodelvy is an antibody-drug conjugate targeting Trop-2, and Keytruda is an anti-PD-1 tumor immunotherapy.

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January 20, 2022 /Bio Valley BIOON/--Gilead Sciences (Gilead Sciences) recently announced that it has signed two clinical trial cooperation and supply agreements with Merck & Co to evaluate Gilead Trop- 2 Combination therapy of targeted antibody conjugated drug (ADC) Trodelvy (sacituzumabgovitecan, goxatuzumab) and Merck's anti-PD-1 therapy Keytruda (Kreida, generic name: pembrolizumab, pembrolizumab), first-line Treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

As part of the collaboration, Merck will sponsor a global Phase 3 clinical trial of Trodelvy in combination with Keytruda in the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic NSCLC. In addition, the two companies recently reached an agreement whereby Gilead will sponsor a Phase 2 signal-seeking study evaluating a combination therapy including Keytruda in first-line treatment of NSCLC.

In October 2021, Gilead Sciences and Merck announced a collaboration to evaluate Trodelvy in combination with Keytruda in the first-line treatment of locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for 85% of lung cancer cases, and it is an aggressive disease with a poor prognosis. Despite significant advances in treatment in recent years, there is still a high unmet medical need, with only 25% of patients surviving more than 5 years.

Trodelvy is a novel antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting Trop-2, consisting of a humanized IgG1 antibody targeting the TROP-2 antigen and the chemotherapeutic drug irinotecan (a topoisomerase I inhibitor). The metabolically active product SN-38 is conjugated. Trop-2 is a cell surface protein frequently expressed in many epithelial tumors, including NSCLC and TNBC. Trodelvy binds to Trop-2 and delivers the anticancer agent SN-38 to selectively kill cancer cells.

Keytruda belongs to PD-(L)1 tumor immunotherapy, which is currently a high-profile tumor immunotherapy. It aims to use the body's own immune system to fight cancer, and block the PD-1/PD-L1 signaling pathway. Cell death has the potential to treat many types of tumors.

Combining Trodelvy with immunostimulants such as Keytruda has the potential to provide a new treatment option for more patients with first-line metastatic NSCLC.

Merdad Parsey, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Gilead Sciences, said: "We are excited to expand our clinical collaboration with Merck to study Trodelvy in combination with Keytruda in another cancer where new combinations are sorely needed to help improve patients. 's prognosis. This partnership builds on our ambition to provide an alternative to traditional chemotherapy, including Trodelvy-containing regimens, in some of the most difficult-to-treat cancers. ”（Bioon.com）