Bristol-Myers and Incyte to launch Phase 3 studies of drug combination

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and Incyte Corp. have agreed to advance their clinical development program.
Together, the two companies will evaluate whether patients with first-line, non-small cell lung cancer or first-line head and neck cancer respond to the combination of epacadostat, Incyte’s investigational oral selective IDO1 enzyme inhibitor, and Opdivo (nivolumab), Bristol-Myers Squibb’s PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor. The investigation will occur during Phase 3 registrational studies.
“We are pleased to build upon our existing collaboration with Incyte and advance the clinical development of epacadostat combined with Opdivo into Phase 3 registrational trials,” Dr. Fouad Namouni, head of Development in Oncology for Bristol-Myers Squibb, said in a statement. “Incyte shares our goal of improving clinical outcomes for patients with some of the hardest-to-treat cancers, and we look forward to working together on studies evaluating the clinical outcomes of this therapeutic combination.”
Incyte's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Steven Stein said they are pleased to expand their partnership with Bristol-Myers Squibb and move the combination of epacadostat plus Opdivo forward into pivotal studies.