Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center have conducted preclinical studies evaluating REQORSA® in combination with anti-PD1 checkpoint inhibitors, including Merck’s Keytruda.

Positive and encouraging data indicate that REQORSA is synergistic with immunotherapies.

In April 2019, we reported that our collaborators at MD Anderson presented positive preclinical data for the combination of TUSC2 with pembrolizumab, demonstrating that TUSC2 combined with checkpoint blockade was more effective than checkpoint blockade alone in increasing the survival of mice with human immune cells, that had metastatic lung cancer.

In November 2019, we reported that our collaborators at MD Anderson presented positive preclinical data for the combination of TUSC2, pembrolizumab and chemotherapy for the treatment of some of the most resistant metastatic lung cancers. This study found that the combination of TUSC2 increases the effectiveness of pembrolizumab and chemotherapy, and thus, may improve on first-line standard of care for lung cancer.

In May 2020, we entered into a worldwide, exclusive license agreement with The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System on behalf of MD Anderson for the use of TUSC2 in combination with immunotherapies, including Keytruda, and also for the use of TUSC2 in a three-drug combination of TUSC2, immunotherapy and chemotherapy. 

In December 2021, we received Fast Track Designation from the FDA for use of REQORSA in combination with the checkpoint inhibitor Keytruda for the treatment of advanced NSCLC patients whose tumors progressed after treatment with Keytruda.

In March 2022, we opened the Acclaim-2 clinical trial for patient enrollment, a Phase 1/2 clinical trial of REQORSA combined with Keytruda. To learn more about Acclaim-2, please visit ClinicalTrials.gov.

To learn more about scientific evidence and studies supporting REQORSA and the TUSC2 gene, please refer to our TUSC2 Bibliography page.

Keytruda® is a registered trademark of Merck & Co.