Aduro Biotech Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company that develops therapies targeting APRIL (A Proliferation Inducing Ligand) and STING (the Stimulator of Interferon Genes) pathways for treatment of cancer, autoimmune & inflammatory diseases, recently presented data from a Phase 1b clinical trial of STING Agonist ADU-S100 in combination with Monoclonal Antibody Spartalizumab PDR001 in patients with Lymphomas & advanced solid tumors. The biopharmaceutical announced the presentation of data in collaboration with Novartis, a Swiss pharmaceutical company, reports source. Stephen T. Isaacs, chairman, president & CEO of Aduro Biotech Inc, was reportedly quoted saying that preliminary anti-tumor activity & the safety profile demonstrated in patients with triple-negative breast cancer & other types of tumors are positive. With evaluation of the clinical and pharmacodynamic biomarker activity by partner Novartis, the company plans to advance this combination therapy towards dose expansion in tumor types to benefit patients. The company aims STING Agonist ADU-S100 to be tested as a combination agent. In study of ipilimumab & ADU-S100 in relapsed/refractory melanoma, patient enrolment is ongoing and by the second half of 2019, there are plans for initiation of study of pembrolizumab & ADU-S100 in first line head & neck cancer, Isaacs added. As per sources close to the matter, The Phase 1b clinical trial enrolled patients with advanced relapsed/refractory solid tumors or lymphomas evaluated 2 treatment schedules. On day 1, all patients received 400 mg of fixed dose of intravenous spartalizumab & either an injection (intratumoral) of ADU-S100, on days 1, 8 & 15 in a 28-day cycle or an intratumoral injection on day 1 of every 28-day cycle. In the first cycle of the 50 – 1,600 µg dose cohorts, no dose-limiting toxicities were reported. The adverse events (AE) of combination of ADU-S100 & spartalizumab were not more frequent than those reported in single agent trial. The most common treatment related AEs were injection site pain (13.3%), pyrexia (12%), diarrhea (9.6%) & rash (6%). Source credits: http://investors.aduro.com/news-releases/news-release-details/aduro-biotech-and-novartis-present-results-ongoing-phase-1b?field_nir_news_date_value%5bmin%5d=2019