Incyte Corporation (NASDAQ:INCY) along with partner Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) announced updated data from phase I/II study, ECHO-204, evaluating Incyte’s epacadostat in combination with the latter’s immune-oncology drug Opdivo for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) and melanoma (MEL). The data was presented at the annual 2017 meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago.
We note that epacadostat is an investigational oral selective IDO1 enzyme inhibitor The combination therapy is being evaluated in multiple advanced solid tumors including SCCHN, treatment-naïve MEL, ovarian cancer and colorectal cancer.
Incyte’s share price has increased 23.7% year to date, while the Zacks classified Medical - Biomedical and Genetics industry gained 2.8%.
Per the data, the combination therapy achieved 63% objective response rate (ORR), which includes two complete responses (CRs), in patients with MEL with no prior treatment. The combined disease control rate (DCR) for this indication was 88%. The ORR in previously treated patients with SCCHN achieved was 23%, including one CR. Combined DCR was 61%. However, the responses were recorded irrespective of PD-L1 expression and HPV status.
We remind investors that epacadostat is being studied in combination with other immuno-oncology agents. In fact, Incyte signed clinical trial collaboration agreements with Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) , Bristol-Myers Company, AstraZeneca plc’s (NYSE:AZN) MedImmune and Roche’s Genentech to evaluate epacadostat with their respective anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 agents in phase I/II studies in 2014. Currently, all four of these studies are in progress. Also, Incyte retains global development and commercialization rights to epacadostat for all indications.
We note that, in April 2017, Incyte and Bristol-Myers announced expansion of the ongoing clinical trial collaboration to include include two pivotal programs in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and head & neck cancer. Phase III trials in these additional tumor types are expected to be initiated in 2017.
In a separate press release, Incyte provided updated data from another phase I/II ECHO-202 study evaluating epacadostat in combination with Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, Keytruda, in multiple tumor cohorts including metastatic or recurrent SCCHN, advanced urothelial bladder cancer (UC) and advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
Per the study, ORR data for SCCHN, UC and RCC were 34%, 35% and 33%, respectively while DCR was a respective 61%, 53% and 50%. The data also demonstrated that the combination therapy achieved three CRs in SCCHN and UC, and one CR in RCC. The data showed improved responses than data presented earlier.
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Incyte currently holds a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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