Lilly, ImaginAb in Preclinical Immuno-oncology Alliance

Eli Lilly and Co. and ImaginAb Inc. have entered preclinical research collaboration to study potential novel T-cell-based immuno-oncology therapies. Financial terms were not disclosed.

ImaginAb will conduct preclinical research using its immune imaging agent, IAB22M2C (a clinical anti-human CD8 probe), to detect T-cell trafficking, redirection and infiltration in response to Lilly oncology molecules. ImaginAb maintains full rights to its imaging agents used as part of the research project. 

CD8-positive T-cells, also known as cytotoxic T-cells, are associated with favorable clinical response to anti-PD-1 therapy in melanoma. IAB22M2C is a PET-based imaging agent that detects CD8-positive T-cells and provides a whole-body picture of immune response, potentially enabling better patient selection and mechanistic understanding of immune-modulating treatments.   

Lilly’s oncology pipeline comprises several molecules that impact the immune system, in addition to other agents directly targeting the tumor. These agents are being tested in a wide range of cancers, including breast, colorectal, gastric, skin, bladder, brain, pancreatic, liver and lung cancer.

“This collaboration demonstrates Lilly’s commitment to advancing biomarker-driven cancer therapies,” noted Greg Plowman, M.D., Ph.D., vice president of oncology research at Lilly. “ImaginAb has developed a highly specific and novel approach for visualizing a patient’s immune response, and we are excited to explore applications of this technology as part of our immuno-oncology drug development efforts.”

“Selecting the proper patients for immunotherapy continues to be a major challenge for the new wave of cancer therapies coming to market,” said Roger Crystal, M.D., chief business officer for ImaginAb. “Same-day CD8 imaging holds tremendous potential in helping to guide treatment for cancer immunotherapies, and we look forward to pioneering this approach with Lilly.”