Kintara Therapeutics has signed a definitive agreement to execute an all-stock merger with TuHURA Biosciences to form a company for developing late-stage oncology assets.

The merged entity, set to operate as TuHURA Biosciences, will progress the development of an oncology pipeline including tailored cancer vaccines and bi-functional antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).

TuHURA is developing technologies to tackle primary and acquired resistance, significant barriers to immunotherapy's ability to treat and potentially cure cancer.

Its lead programme, IFx-2.0, is set to enter a Phase III clinical trial as an adjunct treatment along with Keytruda to enhance tumour response rates in advanced or metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma patients.

The single, placebo-controlled registration-directed trial will be conducted under the Food and Drug Administration's accelerated approval pathway, with enrolment expected to commence in the second half of 2024.

TuHURA is developing bi-functional ADCs targeting myeloid-derived suppressor cells with its Delta receptor technology.

The boards of directors of Kintara and TuHURA have approved the merger deal.

The transaction will conclude in the third quarter of 2024.

Post-merger, TuHURA will be headquartered in Tampa, Florida, US.

A subscribed financing of $31m secured in connection with this transaction is expected to extend the company's cash runway through late 2025.

TuHURA CEO and president Dr James Bianco stated: “With IFx-2.0 readying to enter a single Phase III registration trial, we believe this is the optimal time for TuHURA to transition from a private company to a public company.

“This transaction with Kintara serves as a significant next step in our continued commitment to patients to develop novel therapies to overcome the major obstacles that limit the effectiveness of immunotherapies to treat and cure cancer.”