Merck KGaA and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) have decided to initiate a multi-cancer, open-label randomize phase three study to analyze the safety component and efficacy of avelumab in comparison with nothing but Taxotere. As per the reports, the study has been conducted to treat non-small stage IIIb/IV cell lung cancer in those patients who have experienced the progression of disease after getting a platinum-containing doublet therapy in the past.
Road Ahead:
Reports claim that all the patients will administer Taxotere or avelumab in an ideal ratio of 1:1 irrespective of their status of programmed death ligand one. Even though any operational endpoint hasn’t been announced, but the management of these companies has revealed that the primary endpoint will be nothing but 100% survival in patients. Especially those patients will be covered in this study who have witnessed treatment in the past and are experiencing fast progression of their disease.
The companies have decided to initiate this study as part of a JAVELIN development program for avelumab. The EMR 100070-004 study is just a part of company’s long-term initiatives. Apart from this study, Pfizer & Merck KGaA are working on many other studies as a part of the JAVELIN program. Some of these studies include a phase I study of Japanese patients who are suffering from metastatic tumors. One another phase I study named metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma for various metastatic solid tumors.
The American Cancer Society considers non-small cell lung cancer as the most common type of lung cancer that people suffer these days. It covers almost 85%-90% of lung cancers. Both the companies are delighted to announce the developmental studies and hope that the result will benefit the society in the long run. New therapies are required to get rid of this type of cancer as soon as possible. Further updates about the studies and future initiatives will be made public in the near future.
