BioInvent International AB announced the enrollment of the first patient in a Phase 1/2 trial (NCT04219254; KEYNOTE-A04) in combination with KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab), MSD's (Merck & Co. Inc., Rahway, NJ., USA) anti-PD-1 therapy, investigating a subcutaneous (SC) formulation of its lead drug candidate, the novel anti-FcyRIIB antibody BI-1206, in solid tumors. SC administration provides a significant improvement in terms of convenience and flexibility to both patients and healthcare professionals when compared to intravenous (IV) administration.

In the ongoing Phase 1/2 trial of BI-1206, in combination with rituximab in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), pharmacokinetically equivalent doses to IV have already been administered improving exposure and receptor engagement as had been predicted. Furthermore, there have been no safety or tolerability concerns. The trial is recruiting patients with advanced solid tumors who had progressed after prior treatments including PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Patients will receive three-week cycles of BI-1206 in combination with pembrolizumab for up to two years, or until disease progression. As reported on June 7, 2023, the IV part of the study has already generated early signs of efficacy, e.g., two partial responses and two patients displaying stable disease, out of a total of 18 evaluable patients having received BI-1206+pembrolizumab.