Genentech partners PD-L1 star 'atezo' with Immune Design activator

Just two days after striking a partnership with Merck ($MRK), Immune Design ($IMDZ) has come back with another marquee pact. The West Coast biotech has inked a deal to partner its immune system activator CMB305 with Genentech's anti-PD-L1 star atezolizumab (MPDL3280A) in a Phase II study for soft tissue sarcoma. CMB305 is one of several T cell activators now in the clinic, a field that also inspired the launch of Checkmate today. This is at least the 10th immuno-oncology pact in three days, all part of frenzy triggered by the huge market these drugs are expected to deliver. On Monday Immune Design said that it would partner with Merck on an early-stage study of G100 and LV305, separately combined with Keytruda in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and melanoma. Release