Perspective Therapeutics (NYSE American: CATX) has announced a clinical trial collaboration agreement with Merck (NYSE: MRK) to evaluate its targeted alpha-particle therapy [212Pb]PSV359 in combination with Keytruda (pembrolizumab), Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, in patients with certain types of non-small cell lung cancer and colorectal cancer that express fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAP-α).
According to Perspective, this combination will be evaluated under an amendment to the company’s ongoing Phase 1/2a study. Perspective is sponsoring the study, and Merck is providing pembrolizumab at no cost.
In a statement, Markus Puhlmann, CMO of Perspective, commented, “FAP-α is associated with the majority of solid tumors and with a tumor microenvironment historically characterized by poor drug penetration and immune suppression or exclusion. By combining targeted radiopharmaceutical treatment with a well-established immune checkpoint inhibitor, we aim to evaluate whether this approach can reshape the tumor environment and potentially improve treatment outcomes for patients with advanced FAP-α-positive solid tumors.”
