At the ASCO meeting over the weekend, Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:CLDX) shared study data on some of its pipeline candidates. Celldex’s presentation backed a multiple drug combination therapy strategy. The company said that a combination regimen of its candidates CDX-1401 and CDX-301 yielded positive results in patients with malignant melanoma.

According to Celldex Therapeutics, a Phase 2 study of CDX-1401 and CDX-301 showed significantly positive response in melanoma sufferers who participated in the trial. The company further stated that no adverse safety issues were observed in the study that could require it to end the development of the compounds into marketable products.

Further studies

Following the positive Phase 2 study of the combined therapy of CDX-1401 and CDX-301, Celldex has planned more studies on the compounds as combination treatment. In the subsequent trials, the focus will be on evaluating whether the compounds can generate better clinical outcomes.

Celldex sees an opportunity in the melanoma treatment market. Opdivo and Yervoy are currently the drugs approved for melanoma prescription treatment.

Combination therapy

The idea of developing CDX-301 and CDX-1401 as combined treatments for melanoma by Celldex adds to the shifting trend in the fight against cancers. Cancer researchers recently disclosed that they believed that combining multiple drugs provided a better chance of defeating cancer. In a study to prove the claim, a Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) drug called Darzalex was administered as a combined therapy with two older drugs and the outcome was impressive in patients afflicted by multiple myeloma.

Several drug companies are also working on a combination regimen within their own pipeline as Celldex is doing with CDX-301 and CDX-1401. Others are collaborating with outside partners. Multiple drug regimens could open up more sales opportunities for drug developers and relief for cancer sufferers, but it does raise cost and pricing issues.

More candidates

Besides CDX-301 and CDX-1401, Celldex has other compounds that it hopes to develop into treatments for breast cancer and others that could end up targeting multiple cancer cases.