Daiichi Sankyo (TSE: 4568) and AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/NYSE: AZN) have entered into a clinical trial collaboration agreement with Summit Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: SMMT) to evaluate Datroway^® (datopotamab deruxtecan) in combination with ivonescimab across multiple tumor types including lung and breast cancers. The companies intend to begin with a phase 3 trial in first-line triple negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Datroway is a specifically engineered TROP2 directed DXd antibody drug conjugate (ADC) discovered by Daiichi Sankyo and being jointly developed and commercialized by Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca.

“At Daiichi Sankyo, we are focused on maximizing the potential of our DXd antibody drug conjugate portfolio through innovative combinations and strategic collaborations that support the continued advancement of our pipeline,” said John Tsai, MD, Global Head, R&D, Daiichi Sankyo. “We are encouraged by the opportunity to explore ivonescimab in combination with Datroway to potentially deliver clinically meaningful benefit to patients.”

“Central to our strategy to transform cancer outcomes is harnessing the power of immunotherapy and antibody drug conjugate combinations to drive deeper, more durable responses,” said Susan Galbraith, Executive Vice President, Oncology Hematology R&D, AstraZeneca. “We believe the combination of Datroway and ivonescimab has the potential to make a meaningful difference in multiple tumor types including lung and breast cancers.”

“We believe this collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca reflects increasing conviction in ivonescimab’s potential as a foundational next-generation immunotherapy and advances our ambition for ivonescimab to become the global PD-1/VEGF partner of choice for novel combinations,” said Maky Zanganeh, President and Co-Chief Executive Officer, Summit Therapeutics. “Beginning with a phase 3 study in first-line triple negative breast cancer, this collaboration represents an important expansion of Summit’s global development program into breast cancer and a path for additional solid tumor settings.”

Under the terms of the agreement, each company will contribute their respective compound for the planned combination trials, which will be sponsored by AstraZeneca or Daiichi Sankyo. AstraZeneca, Daiichi Sankyo and Summit will each contribute to trial costs, and each company will retain development and commercial rights to their respective medicines.

Ivonescimab is a novel, potential first-in-class bispecific antibody combining the effects of immunotherapy via a blockade of PD-1 with the anti-angiogenesis effects associated with blocking VEGF into a single molecule.