Merck KGaA’s (MKGAF) biopharmaceutical division, Merck Serono, announced that it will discontinue all studies on its cancer immunotherapy candidate, tecemotide (L-BLP25), as a monotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The company intends to focus on the development of other oncology candidates including MSB0010718C.
Tecemotide was in two phase III studies − START2 and INSPIRE − for the treatment of unresectable, locally advanced stage III NSCLC.
Merck KGaA’s decision to discontinue all studies on tecemotide in NSCLC was based on results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase I/II study (EMR 63325-009) on tecemotide. Merck KGaA said that a planned analysis of the EMR 63325-009 study in Japanese patients with stage III unresectable, locally advanced NSCLC, who had received concurrent or sequential chemoradiotherapy, showed disappointing results.
This lowered tecemotide’s chances of achieving the objectives in ongoing studies. The company has voluntarily stopped experimental treatment of the patients in the EMR 63325-009 study in Japan.
We remind investors that Merck KGaA had initiated the START2 study based on the results of an exploratory analysis of a patient subgroup in an earlier study (START) on tecemotide. Notably, tecemotide had failed to meet the primary endpoint of overall survival in the START study.
However, Merck KGaA will continue to supply tecemotide to the sponsors of other investigator-sponsored studies in other indications.
Meanwhile, MSB0010718C is in a multi-center, single-arm, open-label phase II study in patients suffering from metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma who have previously received one line of chemotherapy. Additionally, MSB0010718C is being evaluated in a phase I study for the treatment of solid tumors.
Merck KgaA carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the health care sector are Lannett Company, Inc. (LCI), Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AVNR) and Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ANAC). While Lannett carries a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Avanir and Anacor hold a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Get all Zacks Research Reports and be alerted to fast-breaking buy and sell opportunities every trading day.
Be the first to comment