keytruda

Lilly, BMS and Merck unite for cancer trials

Lilly will test some of its compounds in combination with rival cancer drugs from Bristol-Myers Squibb and Merck, the companies have announced.

The trials will look at BMS’ Opdivo (nivolumab) and Merck’s Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in combination with a variety of Lilly’s offerings. The two drugs are competitors to one another and are in fact also rivals to several of Lilly’s compounds.

Merck acquires Swiss firm OncoEthix

Hot on the heals of its Cubist buyout Merck has confirmed the acquisition of OncoEthix, a Swiss based firm which specialises in oncology drug development.

Through the takeover Merck attains investigational novel oral BET (bromodomain) inhibitor OTX015 – that is currently in Phase Ib studies for the treatment of advanced solid tumours.

BMS therapeutic cancer vaccine given swift FDA appraisal

Bristol-Myers Squibb has been granted a speedy review for its new cancer immunotherapy drug Opdivo by the FDA for patients with the deadliest form of skin cancer.

The drug is one of a new class of cancer medicines called PD-1 inhibitors that can help the body’s immune system fight certain tumours, and may be worth around $30 billion by the next decade.

Cancer drug gains first early UK access grant

A new type of cell therapy for cancer has become the first to be deemed by the UK government as ‘promising’ and has been added to a new scheme to get medicines to patients faster.

Northwest Biotherapeutics’ experimental DCVax-L is currently undergoing trials for a type of brain tumour called glioblastoma multiforme, and this week the drug become the first to be given the ‘Promising Innovative Medicine’ (PIN) tag.

BMS sues Merck over new melanoma drug

Things are getting ugly between Bristol-Myers Squibb and Merck as the former company began legal proceedings against the latter over its new drug, which gained approval just last week.

In fact BMS filed the lawsuit against Merck’s new melanoma treatment Keytruda (pembrolizumab) on the same day it was approved by the FDA.

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