BriaCell Therapeutics Corp. and BeiGene, Ltd. have entered into a clinical supply agreement to investigate the combination of BriaCell's next-generation immunotherapy, Bria-OTS™, with BeiGene's anti-PD-1 antibody, tislelizumab, for treating advanced, heavily pretreated metastatic breast cancer. This collaboration seeks to improve outcomes for patients who have exhausted other treatment options.
The initial Phase 1/2 clinical trial will evaluate the safety and efficacy of Bria-OTS™ as a monotherapy in breast cancer, followed by an assessment of the combination with tislelizumab. The study targets patients with advanced metastatic breast cancer who have undergone multiple prior treatments.
Rationale for Combination Therapy
Bria-OTS™ is designed to enhance the benefits observed with BriaCell's earlier immunotherapy, Bria-IMT™, which has demonstrated clinical benefits in patients who have developed resistance to checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs). According to Dr. Del Priore, BriaCell’s Chief Medical Officer, Bria-IMT™ has shown survival and clinical benefits in patients with central nervous system (CNS) metastases and after progression on antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) in randomized Phase 2 trials. The Bria-OTS™ platform represents an off-the-shelf therapy with enhanced potency, suggesting that its combination with tislelizumab may offer additional benefits in this patient population.
Future Expansion
Beyond breast cancer, BriaCell plans to evaluate Bria-OTS™ in prostate and other cancers, broadening the potential impact of this immunotherapy platform. Dr. William V. Williams, BriaCell’s President & CEO, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership with BeiGene, highlighting the potential to transform cancer care through this novel immunotherapy approach.
