Olaptesed (NOX-A12) Alone and in Combination With Pembrolizumab in Colorectal and Pancreatic Cancer

Olaptesed pegol (NOX-A12) targets a key chemokine in the tumor microenvironment, CXCL12, which is naturally involved in the homeostasis of blood and immune cells. In cancer, CXCL12 acts as a communication bridge between tumor cells and their environment. In particular, it confers resistance to checkpoint inhibitors through T-cell exclusion in preclinical models. The hypothesis is that inactivation of CXCL12 by olaptesed pegol induces changes in the tumor microenvironment of patients with colorectal and pancreatic cancer which render the tumors more susceptible to immuno-oncological approaches such as checkpoint inhibition.