Dr. Bradley on OX40 for the Treatment of Cancer

Edward Bradley, MD, Senior Vice President, Head, Innovative Medicines unit (iMED), MedImmune (the global biologics research and development arm of AstraZeneca), describes the development of an agonist for the treatment of cancer.

OX40 is an immune agonist that induces a strong memory function and directly stimulates T lymphocytes to become highly potent killers of tumor cells.

In a phase I study, patients received a murine version of OX40 on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for one week only. The murine version of OX40 stimulated a regression of tumors in approximately half of these patients with progressive disease. In many cases, Bradley says, these responses were durable.

This trial demonstrated that OX40 is a highly potent agonist molecule. Bradley says that he is excited for OX40 to be moved into the clinic as a humanized version and single agent. OX40 will also be looked in combination, as preclinical data suggest that OX40 combinations are potent and highly synergistic.