Alkermes Expands Phase 1 Study For ALKS 4230 In Combination With KEYTRUDA

(RTTNews) - Alkermes plc (ALKS) announced that it has expanded its ongoing phase 1 study for ALKS 4230, the company's immuno-oncology drug candidate, to evaluate its safety and anti-tumor activity when administered in combination with the FDA-approved PD-1 inhibitor KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) in patients with advanced solid tumors.

Pembrolizumab is an anti-PD-1 therapy that works by increasing the ability of the body's immune system to help detect and fight tumor cells.

"We've accelerated clinical evaluation of ALKS 4230 in combination with pembrolizumab based on data from our ongoing monotherapy dose-escalation stage of the phase 1 study, where ALKS 4230 demonstrated dose-dependent pharmacodynamic effects on circulating natural killer cells and CD8+ T cells, and minimal and non-dose dependent effects on immunosuppressive regulatory T cells. These data validate our design rationale for ALKS 4230, and we look forward to sharing initial data from our dose-escalation cohorts at a medical meeting later this year," said Craig Hopkinson, Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of Medicines Development and Medical Affairs at Alkermes.