Caladrius Biosciences, Inc. announced Cend's execution of a collaboration agreement with F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. (“Roche”) to evaluate Cend's lead investigational drug, CEND-1, in combination with atezolizumab (Tecentriq®), Roche's PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor, along with standard-of-care chemotherapy in patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (“mPDAC”). Under the terms of the agreement, Roche will be responsible for operational management of the trial while Cend and Roche share equally in the costs of the CEND-1 treatment arms in the study. Phase 1b clinical results with Cend's investigational drug, CEND-1, in combination with standard-of-care chemotherapy regimen of gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel, have been previously reported and recently published in Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

Additionally, a controlled Phase 2b clinical trial of the CEND-1/gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel regimen in first-line mPDAC recently has been initiated and plans for treatment combinations in Phase 1b/2 clinical trials in additional solid tumor indications are being actively planned.