Merck and Pfizer begin Phase III trials for avelumab in ovarian cancer
pharmafile | July 6, 2016 | News story | Research and Development | Merck, Pfizer, avelumab
Merck (KGaA, Darmstadt) and Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) have announced the initiation of the first Phase III study of investigational compound, avelumab, as a first-line treatment for ovarian cancer.
The big pharma pair entered into a strategic alliance to jointly develop and commercialise avelumab and have since trialled the drug in various cancer indications, such as renal cell carcinoma and non-small lung cancer.
This latest trial for avelumab in ovarian cancer, announced in December, is the first Phase III trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of the drug in combination with, and/or as a follow on treatment to, platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced or metastatic ovarian cancer.
The study will enrol around 950 patients, who will receive concurrent avelumab and chemotherapy, avelumab following chemotherapy, or chemotherapy alone.
Alise Reicin, head of global clinical development at Merck, says: “In an early ongoing study, avelumab showed encouraging tumour response rates in patients with recurrent or refractory ovarian cancer. Historically, ovarian cancer presents as an advanced disease with poor survival rates. The hope is that avelumab can change the natural history of the disease and potentially take the survival rate beyond the current five year estimate.”
Chris Boshoff, head of early development in oncology at Pfizer, adds: “Patients with ovarian cancer need additional treatment options. We believe there could be synergistic activity in the combination of avelumab and established treatments such as platinum-based chemotherapy.”
Sean Murray
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