Merck Presents PD-L1 And MK-3475 Early Data At AACR 2014
Merck announced the presentation of its exploratory analyses regarding the relationship between tumor PD-L1 expression and clinical outcomes after monotherapy with MK-3475 in patients with advanced melanoma and advanced non-small cell lung cancer. The data were presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting 2014 in San Diego.
Preliminary PD-L1 expression analysis in advanced melanoma showed high prevalence of PF-L1 expression. Together with responses observed in the overall population and patients with PD-L1 positive tumors, the company said the data suggests that selection of patients for MK-3475 therapy based on PF-L1 measurement is of limited use in the tumor. Preliminary findings on PD-L1 expression in previously treated patients with advanced NSCLC demonstrated strong tumor expression of PD-L1 in about 25 percent of advanced NSCLC patients. Both tumor types suggest that higher PD-L expression was linked with higher overall response rates.
Dr. Eric Rubin, VP of Oncology at Merck Research Laboratories, said, “These exploratory analyses are providing us with insightful information regarding the association of PD-L1 expression and clinical outcomes with MK-3475. In both types of advanced cancers studied, we are seeing durable responses in a wide range of patients, including those with PD-L1 negative tumors. We will continue to explore PD-L1 expression and other selection markers across tumors in our MK-3475 development program.”
Melanoma is the most aggressive type of skin cancer and is the leading cause of death from skin disease. Approximately 9,480 patients in the U.S. with advanced melanoma died in 2013, according the American Cancer Society. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in both men and women worldwide, with approximately 1.5 million deaths every year. Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common type of lung cancer.
MK-3475 is an investigational, highly selective anti-PD-1 immunotherapy designed to revive the immune system’s ability to recognize and target cancer cells. The drug accomplishes this by selectively achieving dual ligand blockade (PD-L1 and PD-L2) of the PD-1 protein. Through inhibition of PD-1, the immunotherapy allows activation of T-cells that target cancer cells.
The company said it is exploring further study regarding the relationship between PD-L1 expression and responses to ML-3475 as monotherapy and when combined with other treatments for melanoma, NSCLC, and other tumors.