Bristol-Myers Squibb and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have entered into a research collaboration agreement as part of the Immuno-Oncology Rare Population Malignancy (I-O RPM) program in the U.S. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is the latest academic-based cancer center to join the I-O RPM program, which is a multi-institutional initiative focused on the clinical investigation of immuno-oncology therapeutics as potential treatment options for patients with high risk, poor prognostic cancers, defined as a rare population malignancy.

“Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Bristol-Myers Squibb have a shared commitment to patients and to continuing to advance the science in Immuno-Oncology research,” said Laura Bessen, M.D., head of U.S. Medical, Bristol-Myers Squibb. “We look forward to working with them as part of the I-O RPM program.”

“Recent advances in scientific research have shown the great potential of immuno-oncology agents in hematologic cancers, including myeloma,” said Dr. Paul Richardson, clinical program leader and director of Clinical Research of the Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. “We look forward to expanding on these findings through the support of the I-O RPM program with the goal of further improving patient outcomes.”

As part of the I-O RPM program, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute will conduct a range of early phase clinical studies and Bristol-Myers Squibb will support the training of young investigators who contribute to the I-O RPM program at Dana-Farber.