Pfizer And Merck To Jointly Investigate Anti-Cancer Combination Therapy
Pfizer Inc. and Merck & Co. have announced their agreement to jointly investigate the therapeutic potential of Inlyta (axitinib) and anti-PD-1 therapy MK-3475. The drugs will be studied as an anti-cancer combination therapy against renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
MK-3475 will be studied in conjunction with two of Pfizer’s assets. Inlyta combined with MK-3474 will be evaluated for efficacy and safety in treatment of RCC in a Phase I/II study. Another Phase I study will evaluate the safety and tolerability of fully humanized monoclonal antibody (mAb) PF-05082566 (PF-2566) with MK-3475.
Merck Research Laboratories Vice President for Clinical Development for Oncology Dr. Eric Rubin said, “We are pleased to be collaborating with Pfizer to study MK-3475 as part of these novel combination regimens... Early evaluation of immunotherapeutic combinations is important toward potentially accelerating the development of new options for patients with cancer.”
Pfizer Oncology Chief Medical Officer Dr. Mace Rothenberg said, “There has been notable progress in the cancer immunotherapy field over the last year, with new clinical data showing promising efficacy and tolerability for emerging therapies – particularly those that target the PD-1 pathway. These investigational therapies, which harness the body’s immune system to treat disease, may hold the greatest potential for patients with cancer when used in combination with other immuno-oncology agents, like PF-2566, to amplify anti-tumor immune responses, or with targeted agents, like axitinib, to optimize their effectiveness.”
Dr. Rothenberg said Pfizer is pleased to collaborate with Merck in studying a diverse group of anti-cancer agents in combination with Merck’s MK-3475. Both studies will be conducted by Pfizer. At present, Merck is conducting the pre-clinical studies regarding the combination of Pfizer’s investigational therapy palbociclib (PD-0332991 with MK-3475 under a separate agreement. No financial terms have been disclosed by either Merck or Pfizer regarding the clinical studies of MK-3475 plus axitinib and MK-3475 plus PF-2566.
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