Several major pharmaceutical companies have entered the growing market of PD-(L)1xVEGF bispecifics, a promising new class of cancer treatments.
Merck & Co., Bristol Myers Squibb, and Pfizer have announced plans to develop these innovative therapies. The emergence of this market has raised questions about whether existing PD-1/L1 players will use bispecifics to bolster their positions or leapfrog established anti-PD-1 drugs.
Eli Lilly and Novartis had previously explored the development of PD-1 inhibitors but abandoned their plans due to a crowded market and regulatory challenges. However, both companies remain interested in the VEGF approach, with Lilly’s Cyramza and Novartis’ Beovu already approved for certain cancers.
Data from PD-(L)1xVEGF studies have been “provocative,” according to Jake Van Naarden, president of Lilly Oncology. While Lilly is cautious about entering this new market, the company has more resources than ever to develop a PD-(L)1xVEGF program.
Novartis is also evaluating PD-(L)1xVEGF as a potential hedge against its internal work on radioligand therapies. The company sees this area of interest as part of its broader efforts to explore external clinical-stage assets aligned with its cancer treatment focus.
Major pharmaceutical companies often present caution when discussing hot topics, such as the recent deals for PD-(L)1xVEGF candidates from BioNTech and 3SBio. However, these cautious statements mask their true intentions, which will likely become clearer in the coming months as more data emerges on this promising new class of treatments.
Source: https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/bms-and-pfizer-joining-pd-1-bispecific-race-are-lilly-and-novartis-interested