Merck, Lilly to research immuno-oncology combination regimens

The deal will see evaluation of the safety, tolerability and efficacy of Keytruda (pembrolizumab), Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, in combination with Lilly compounds in multiple clinical trials.

As part of the deal, Merck will carry out a Phase II trial that will evaluate the combination of pembrolizumab with pemetrexed in first-line non-squamous, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

In 2015, Lilly will start a multiple-arm Phase I/II trial to evaluate the combination of ramucirumab with pembrolizumab in multiple tumors as well as initiate a Phase I/II trial examining the combination of necitumumab with pembrolizumab in NSCLC.

Lilly Oncology senior vice-president of product development and medical affairs said: "Cancer is not one disease but rather more than 200 diseases, all of which have different causes and treatments.

"Therefore research into combinations of immune-based therapies with other agents that could address these different tumor types is important.

"This collaboration between Lilly and Merck represents each company’s strong commitment to patients fighting these devastating diseases."

Keytruda is a humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks the interaction between PD-1 and its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2.

Merck Research Laboratories vice president of global clinical development, oncology Eric Rubin said: "Our understanding of the immune system’s role and its impact in the treatment of cancer continues to grow.

"Collaborations such as this one are important in advancing the investigation of novel immuno-oncology combinations in different cancers, and to achieving our shared goal of bringing meaningful benefits to patients facing cancer."

In the US, Keytruda is indicated at a dose of 2mg/kg every three weeks to treat patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma and disease progression following ipilimumab and, if BRAF V600 mutation positive, a BRAF inhibitor.