XmAb18087 + pembrolizumab

XmAb18087 + pembrolizumab is an investigational combination therapy being studied for the treatment of advanced cancers, including Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). XmAb18087 is a bispecific monoclonal antibody designed to target somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) and CD3, thereby redirecting T cells to kill SSTR2-expressing tumor cells. Pembrolizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), blocking its interaction with PD-L1 and PD-L2, which enhances the immune system's ability to detect and destroy cancer cells. The combination aims to leverage both direct T-cell redirection against tumors via XmAb18087 and immune checkpoint inhibition via pembrolizumab. This approach is under clinical investigation for patients with advanced MCC who have not received prior anti-PD1 or anti-PDL1 therapies, as well as in other solid tumors[6][4][3].