IONOVA Announces Clinical Trial Collaboration with MSD to Evaluate INV-1120 in Combination with KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors

SHENZHEN,China,April 29,2022 -- Shenzhen IONOVA Life Science Co.,Ltd. announces today it has entered into a clinical trial collaboration agreement with MSD (Merck & Co.,Inc.,Kenilworth,NJ.,USA) to evaluate clinical benefits of INV-1120,IONOVA's EP4 antagonist,in combination with MSD's anti-PD-1 therapy,KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) for cancer treatment.

Under this agreement,IONOVA will conduct a Phase 1b study in the US to evaluate the safety and efficacy of INV-1120 combined with KEYTRUDA® for the treatment of selected advanced solid tumors.

According to Dr. Yongkui Sun,CEO of IONOVA and a member of the US National Academy of Engineering,"We are pleased to collaborate with MSD to evaluate INV-1120 in combination with KEYTRUDA® for the treatment of advanced solid tumors. IONOVA has previously demonstrated that INV-1120 not only has mono therapeutic anti-cancer efficacy,but also exhibits strong additive anti-cancer benefits in combination with anti-PD-1 therapy in preclinical solid tumor models. We are excited now that the clinical collaboration with MSD enables us to evaluate the clinical benefits of INV-1120 in combination with KEYTRUDA® for certain cancer patients."

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

About INV-1120

INV-1120 is a highly potent,highly selective,and orally available EP4 antagonist designed to modulate the tumor microenvironment. EP4 antagonist has shown to increase T cell infiltration and regulate macrophage functions in tumors,contributing to increased anti-tumor immune responses in preclinical tumor models. INV-1120 is currently in Phase I clinical trials in theUS and in China.

About IONOVA

IONOVA is a clinical-stage biotech company focused on the discovery and development of innovative cancer medicines especially targeted- and immuno-therapies.

info@ionovabio.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ionova-announces-clinical-trial-collaboration-with-msd-to-evaluate-inv-1120-in-combination-with-keytruda-pembrolizumab-in-patients-with-advanced-solid-tumors-301536173.html