Merck, Pfizer and Syndax to investigate avelumab and entinostat combination for ovarian cancer

The companies have signed a collaboration agreement under which Pfizer and Merck will combine their avelumab cancer drug with Syndax’s entinostat, a treatment currently being studied in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer.

The companies did not disclose the financial terms of the agreement, which includes the investigation of safety, tolerability and preliminary efficacy of avelumab and entinostat in advanced ovarian cancer.

Syndax will carry out the phase Ib/II clinical trial in ovarian cancer, which is the seventh most common cancer in women globally.

Avelumab, also known as MSB0010718C, inhibits PD-L1 interactions to potentially allow the activation of T-cells and the adaptive immune system.

It is being developed and commercialized jointly by Merck and Pfizer under an alliance formed in November 2014.

Syndax’s entinostat is an investigational oral small molecule that targets immune regulatory cells in patients with heavily pre-treated, recurrent ovarian cancer.

It has direct effects on both cancer cells and immune regulatory cells, potentially improving the body’s immune response to tumors.

Merck head of global research & development of the biopharma business Luciano Rossetti said: "Combination therapy is the next frontier in immuno-oncology and a key strategy for the alliance.

"Avelumab as a monotherapy has already shown promising early activity in ovarian cancer in a Phase Ib trial, and through our ongoing research and this collaboration with Syndax, we will hopefully be able to make a real difference to women fighting this complex cancer."

Image: Merck, Pfizer and Syndax will collaborate to investigate safety, tolerability and preliminary efficacy of avelumab and entinostat in advanced ovarian cancer. Photo: courtesy of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.