Innate Pharma has dosed the first patient in the Phase II MATISSE clinical trial of IPH5201 along with durvalumab and chemotherapy to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

The single-arm, multi-centre study will evaluate neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatment with the anti-CD39 blocking monoclonal antibody IPH5201 combined with durvalumab and chemotherapy in treatment-naïve patients with resectable early-stage NSCLC.

Assessing the antitumour activity of neoadjuvant treatment based on pathological complete response (pCR) and safety is the primary objective of the study.

Innate Pharma chief medical officer Joyson Karakunnel said: “We are pleased to announce the dosing of the first patient in this Phase II study conducted in collaboration with our partner AstraZeneca.

“If this combination shows relevant anti-tumour activity while remaining well tolerated, as observed in the previous Phase I study, it will be a major step in the development of IPH5201 in this indication.”

Innate is conducting the trial and shares the study costs with AstraZeneca, which is responsible for supplying the drugs for the study.

A multi-term deal, including an option agreement for IPH5201, was signed between both companies in October 2018.

AstraZeneca made a $50m upfront payment to Innate for the option to the exclusive license to co-develop and co-commercialise the antibody.

It also paid high-single to double-digit tiered royalties. The deal also included around $825m opt-in payments, as well as commercial and development milestones.

As part of the option agreement, Innate agreed to retain the right to receive profit sharing within the EU.