Active Biotech announced it has entered into a clinical trial collaboration agreement with Stichting Haemato-Oncologie Volwassenen Netherland (HOVON) and Stichting Oncode Institute (Oncode) for the upcoming clinical proof-of-concept trial of tasquinimod in myelofibrosis. HOVON will be the legal sponsor of the trial, Oncode the main financier and Active Biotech will provide tasquinimod study drug to the study. Active Biotech has a global patent license agreement with Oncode Institute, acting on behalf of Erasmus Universiteit Medisch Centrum (Erasmus MC) to develop and commercialize tasquinimod worldwide in myelofibrosis is planned to start in 2023.

Myelofibrosis (MF) is a rare blood cancer belonging to a group of disorders called myeloproliferative neoplasms. The underlying cause of MF is unknown. MF is associated with shortened survival and causes of death include bone marrow failure and transformation into acute leukemia. MF can be treated with bone marrow transplantation for eligible individuals, erythropoietin to manage anemia and JAK inhibitors to reduce spleen size.

At present there are no approved therapies that would reverse bone marrow fibrosis in MF.