Compugen Ltd, a clinical-stage cancer immunotherapy company and a leader in predictive target discovery, announced today the expansion of its clinical collaboration agreement with Bristol Myers Squibb. Under the amended agreement, Bristol Myers Squibb will supply Opdivo (nivolumab), its PD-1 inhibitor, for Compugen's Phase 1b cohort expansion study designed to assess COM701, Compugen's first-in-class anti-PVRIG antibody, in combination with Opdivo in selected cancer indications. Study initiation is expected in the second quarter of 2021.

"We are excited to further expand our clinical program evaluating COM701, our first-in-class anti PVRIG inhibitor," said Anat Cohen-Dayag, Ph.D., President and CEO of Compugen. "While our triple checkpoint blockade study of COM701 combined with Bristol Myers Squibb's PD-1 and TIGIT inhibitors currently advancing in the clinic offers the ultimate test of our science-driven hypothesis, translational research at Compugen suggests that certain patients may not require a triple therapy combination. With the enrollment in the dose escalation arm of COM701 in combination with Opdivo completed and preliminary signs of antitumour activity previously disclosed, we are ready to continue our evaluation of this dual combination and move to the cohort expansion phase of the study. Testing COM701 in three settings – as a monotherapy, dual combination, and triple combination therapy – may provide additional insights on the contribution of components as well as the opportunity to broaden COM701 treatment options to address patients' needs. We are proud to be moving quickly to initiate this biomarker and data-informed study in indications we believe are most likely to respond to dual PVRIG and PD-1 blockade, enhancing our leadership position in the DNAM-1 axis space."

Dr Cohen-Dayag continued, "Bristol Myers Squibb continues to be a valued partner for our COM701 clinical program as we advance the immunotherapy treatment landscape of patients with cancer."

Under the terms of the amendment, Bristol Myers Squibb will continue to supply Opdivo to the Compugen-sponsored study. The Phase 1b study, a part of Compugen's COM701 monotherapy and combination therapy dose escalation and expansion program (NCT03667716), will examine fixed doses of COM701 and Opdivo, as determined by Compugen's Phase 1a combination dose escalation study. Based on Compugen's translational analyses and preliminary antitumor activity in dose escalation, the study will enroll patients with ovarian, breast, endometrial and microsatellite-stable colorectal cancers.