Dragonfly Therapeutics Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing novel immunotherapies, has entered a clinical collaboration with Merck to evaluate DF9001, Dragonfly’s EGFR immune engager, in combination with Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab), in patients with advanced solid tumors expressing EGFR.
 
Bill Haney, co-founder and CEO of Dragonfly Therapeutics, said, “We are pleased to enter into this agreement with Merck for our ongoing, investigational Phase 1 trial of DF9001. In preclinical models, DF9001 engages multiple immune effector cells to drive anti-tumor activity and induces PD-L1 expression in tumor cells, sensitizing cold tumors to checkpoint inhibitors. We are hopeful that DF9001 in combination with KEYTRUDA will drive potent anti-tumor activity in a broad range of indications and are excited to further accelerate progress in the clinic to benefit patients in need.”
 
Merck signed its first collaboration agreement with Dragonfly Therapeutics in 2018.
 
Dragonfly is the study sponsor. First patients are expected to receive DF9001 in combination with pembrolizumab in Q4 2024. Clinical trial sites are currently open for monotherapy dosing in the U.S., with additional sites in North America and Europe expected to open in 2024.