LAVA Announces Clinical Development Milestone Achieved by Pfizer for PF-08046052 (formerly SGN-EGFRd2/LAVA-1223)

Milestone triggered by clinical progress in Phase 1 study, initiated in Q4 2023

UTRECHT, The Netherlands and PHILADELPHIA, March 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LAVA Therapeutics N.V. (NASDAQ: LVTX, “LAVA”), a clinical-stage immuno-oncology company focused on developing its proprietary Gammabody platform of bispecific gamma delta T cell engagers, today announced that Pfizer has achieved a clinical development milestone for PF-08046052 (formerly SGN-EGFRd2 /LAVA-1223), prompting the first milestone payment of $7 Million to LAVA. LAVA granted Seagen (acquired by Pfizer in December 2023) a worldwide, exclusive license to PF-08046052 in September 2022.

“We are very pleased with the initiation of clinical development by Pfizer of PF-08046052, formerly SGN-EGFRd2/LAVA-1223. We have always viewed this molecule with excitement about its potential in oncology. Achievement of this milestone is another important step in realizing the potential of LAVA’s Gammabody platform. As the Phase 1 study advances, we look forward to continued clinical progress and future data readouts,” said Stephen Hurly, President and Chief Executive Officer of LAVA.

“The initiation of the Phase 1 study for PF-08046052 marks the third asset utilizing LAVA’s Gammabody platform to enter the clinic and will add further information on safety, clinical pharmacology and potential anti-tumor activity to the growing database for this novel class of molecules,” commented Charles Morris, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, LAVA. “We are especially encouraged by the ongoing progress for PF-08046052 and PSMA-directed LAVA-1207, currently in a Phase 1/2a study. Both programs direct Vγ9Vδ2 T cells to validated targets and have the potential to provide important proof-of-concept for LAVA’s Gammabody platform.”  

About PF-08046052 (formerly LAVA-1223)
PF-08046052 is a potential first-in-class asset utilizing the Gammabody platform designed to conditionally activate Vγ9Vδ2 (Vgamma9 Vdelta2) T cells, upon crosslinking to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), to trigger the potent and preferential killing of EGFR-positive tumor cells. EGFR is a well-validated target that is over-expressed in multiple solid tumor types, including colorectal cancer (CRC), non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). PF-08046052 is being evaluated in an ongoing Phase 1 study (NCT05983133) by Pfizer under an exclusive worldwide license agreement. In accordance with the agreement, LAVA received a $50 million upfront payment and is eligible to receive milestones of up to approximately $650 million upon achievement of development, regulatory and commercial milestones as well as royalties on potential sales.