Merck Data at ASCO 2018 to Showcase Progress and Further Optionality of Oncology Pipeline (1)

DARMSTADT, Germany, May 17, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Not intended for UK- or US-based media 

ASCO Abstract # ERBITUX(R) (cetuximab): 3521, 3534, e15711; avelumab: 9507, 9537, 9090, 9008, 8563, 3057, 4544, e21531, e13603, e18932, e21623, e21620, e21544; tepotinib (c-Met kinase inhibitor): 9082, 9016; M6620 (ATR inhibitor): 2549, e21048; M3814 (DNA-PK): 2518 M7824 (TGF-ss trap/anti-PD-L1): 3007, 9017, 2566; M2698 (dual p70S6k/Akt inhibitor): 2584

- Two-year safety and efficacy data in mMCC for avelumab from pivotal JAVELIN Merkel 200 trial  - Further data reinforcing commitment to precision medicine and position of ERBITUX(R) (cetuximab) as a standard of care in mCRC  - Early clinical activity in advanced NSCLC and HPV-associated cancers for investigational bifunctional immunotherapy, M7824  - Encouraging interim analysis of Phase II data in NSCLC sub-population for c-Met inhibitor, tepotinib  - Record number of abstracts accepted across oncology, immuno-oncology and DNA Damage Response (DDR)  

Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announced new data from a number of high priority clinical development programs across its oncology portfolio to be presented at this year's American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting (ASCO), June 1-5, 2018, Chicago, IL. Abstracts representing seven therapeutic agents and eight tumor types will highlight Merck's position as a key emerging player in oncology.

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"This year's data at ASCO demonstrate the potential of our pipeline to really deliver transformative advancements in cancer care," said Luciano Rossetti, Executive Vice President, Head of Global Research & Development at the biopharma business of Merck. "With our strong commitment and focus on the areas we believe in most, Merck's oncology and immuno-oncology pipeline is demonstrating significant potential in the near term with our later-stage priority programs and, in parallel, our early pipeline includes truly innovative programs that could make a real difference for patients."

Data for the legacy brand ERBITUX(R) continue to build on Merck's heritage in oncology reinforcing its role as a standard of care in RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), the standard of care in first-line recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (R/M SCCHN), and a standard of care for patients with locally advanced SCCHN (LA SCCHN), who may not be able to tolerate cisplatin-based regimens in full.

New data for avelumab* (BAVENCIO(R)), which is being jointly developed and commercialized with Pfizer, include an oral presentation on two-year results from the pivotal JAVELIN Merkel 200 trial. These long-term results include data on avelumab's duration of response and represent the first study to report long-term survival data for an immunotherapy in metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (mMCC).

The company will also present further evidence for M7824, an investigational TGF-ss trap/anti-PD-L1 bi-functional immunotherapy fusion protein, from expansion cohorts of the ongoing M7824 Phase I clinical trial (NCT02517398) program. TGF-beta, a cytokine released by cells (including tumor cells), suppresses anti-tumor immune responses through a vast number of mechanisms leading to uninhibited tumor growth and metastasis. These data include results in patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers (presented in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute) and data in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In second-line (2L) NSCLC, signs of clinical activity were seen across PD-L1 expression levels. At the recommended Phase II dose, a confirmed overall response rate (ORR) of 40.7% (11/27) was observed in PD-L1+ patients (greater than or equal to1%), and in patients with high PD-L1 expression (80%; Ab clone 73-10 [>80%=>50% with 22C3]), the ORR was 71.4% (5/7). These data signal the potential of M7824 and provide evidence that combining a transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) trap with the anti-PD-L1 mechanism in one molecule may generate anti-tumor activity in these patient groups with significant medical need. Treatment with M7824 was well tolerated in both studies and safety data were consistent with that observed in the overall Phase I clinical program. No new safety signals were identified.

For tepotinib**, an investigational highly selective small molecule inhibitor of the c-Met receptor tyrosine kinase, new data to be presented include promising initial results from an ongoing Phase II VISION study providing further indication for the potential of tepotinib in patients living with advanced NSCLC harboring MET exon 14 skipping mutations. Alterations of the c-Met signaling pathway are found in various cancer types and correlate with aggressive tumor behavior and poor clinical prognosis. Based on investigator assessment of data from 15 patients in the study, 60% (9/15) had a confirmed partial response (PR) and 20% (3/15) had stable disease (SD). In addition, independent assessment of 13 patients demonstrated treatment with tepotinib led to a confirmed PR in 46.2% (6/13) and SD in 7.7% (1/13) of patients. In this study, the safety data are consistent with that observed in previous studies and confirm that treatment with tepotinib is well tolerated; no new safety signals were identified.

Tepotinib is an important part of Merck's strategic focus on precision medicines and these results reinforce the company's progress in delivering treatments to those patients more likely to benefit, in order to achieve the best possible outcomes. Both M7824 and tepotinib were discovered in-house at Merck.

Further pipeline updates include Phase I dose escalation data for the investigational DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) inhibitor M3814, Phase I triplet therapy with ATR-inhibitor, M6620 +veliparib+cisplatin in advanced solid tumors, and Phase I data for M2698, a potent and selective dual inhibitor of p70S6K and AKT1/3 in the PAM pathway (PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway). The PAM pathway regulates cell survival and growth and this pathway often displays unusual activity in many human cancers.

**Tepotinib is the recommended International Nonproprietary Name (INN) for the c-Met kinase inhibitor (MSC2156119J). Tepotinib is currently under clinical investigation and not approved for any use anywhere in the world.

Tepotinib, M7824, M3814, M2698 and M6620 are under clinical investigation and have not been proven to be safe and effective. There is no guarantee any product will be approved in the sought-after indication by any health authority worldwide.

Notes to Editors 

Accepted Merck-supported key abstracts slated for presentation are listed below. In addition, a number of investigator-sponsored studies have been accepted (not listed).

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