Jacobio Pharma (1167.HK) announced it has entered into a clinical collaboration with Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA to evaluate the combination of Jacobio's CD73 monoclonal antibody JAB-BX102 in combination with Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA's anti-PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab).

The clinical study will evaluate the clinical effect of JAB-BX102 in combination with KEYTRUDA for the treatment of advanced solid tumors. Under the terms of the agreement, Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA will provide KEYTRUDA®.

"The CD73 monoclonal antibody is Jacobio's first large molecule project to enter the clinic. CD73 is an important target in the tumor immune pathway. We believe the combination of CD73 and anti-PD-1, an inhibitor on the same tumor immune pathway, can potentially relieve immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment, stimulate the proliferation and activation of killer immune cells, enhance tumor immunity," said Dr. WANG Yinxiang, Chairman and CEO at Jacobio. "We look forward to exploring the potential benefit of CD73 in combination with an anti-PD-1 in tumor immunotherapy through this collaboration with Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and potentially giving patients new treatment options."

KEYTRUDA® is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA.