BMY - Idera melanoma candidate tilsotolimod fails in phase 3 trial

Idera Pharmaceuticals' (IDRA) tilsotolimod did not meet its primary endpoint in a phase 3 trial as a treatment for anti-PD1 refractory advanced melanoma.The phase 3 ILLUMINATE-301 trials was testing a combination of tilsotolimod and Bristol-Myers Squibb's (BMY) Yervoy (ipilimumab) vs. Yervoy alone.Results showed an 8.8% objective response rate (ORR) in the combination arm compared to 8.6% in the Yervoy alone arm, which is not statistically significant. ORR was the primary endpoint.Disease control rate -- defined as stable disease or better -- was 34.5% in the combination group vs. 27.2% in the Yervoy group.Treatment-emergent adverse events were higher in the combination arm (61.1% vs. 55.1%).The company says it will continue to explore tilsotolimod in the phase 2 ILLUMINATE-206 study, where the candidate is being combined with both Yervoy and Opdivo (nivolumab), another Bristol drug, for colorectal cancer.Idera shares were up 4.8% to $5.46 in after-hours trading, before being halted prior to the release

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Idera melanoma candidate tilsotolimod fails in phase 3 trial