Israel-based pharmaceutical major Teva has increased its stake in CureTech to 75% with an investment of $19m, due to positive Phase II trial results of CureTech’s partnered CT-011 drug for lymphoma.

The trial saw CT-011 meet all primary endpoints of improved progression-free survival in diffuse large B cell lymphoma patients, and also displayed improved overall survival rates.

CT-011 is an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody used to treat the aggressive forms of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and works by increasing white blood cell levels, boosting a patient’s immune response.

Teva will retain an option to wholly acquire CureTech, and the deal could also inject up to $50m in funding for the project as it enters the Phase III testing stage.