Merck: Driving Innovation in Cancer Care at ESMO 2017 With New Data in Hard-to-Treat Cancers

DARMSTADT, Germany, August 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Not intended for U.K. or U.S. based media 

ESMO 2017 abstract #

Erbitux(R): 576P, 593P, 1068P, 1579P; avelumab: 1227P, 913P, 1377TiP, 882P, 856P;

M6620 (ATR inhibitor): 242PD; M2698 (dual p70S6K/Akt inhibitor): 370PD, 393P; tepotinib

(c--Met kinase inhibitor): 701P

- Data to showcase Merck's strong and diverse pipeline ranging from immuno-oncology to DNA damage response - Avelumab data validate potential in hard-to-treat cancers and highlight progress of the JAVELIN clinical development program - First stand-alone data in mTNBC for ATR inhibitor (M6620) from Merck's comprehensive portfolio in DNA damage response

Merck, a leading science and technology company, today announced it will present

data

for a number of tumor types across its rapidly evolving pipeline. A total of 23

abstracts,

representing five therapeutic agents, will highlight the company's expanding scientific

expertise at this year's European Society for Medical Oncology congress (ESMO 2017;

September 8-12, Madrid, Spain).

Data to be presented include continued reinforcement of the role of established

brand

Erbitux(R) (cetuximab) as a standard of care therapy, with quality of life (QoL) data

in

colorectal cancer (CRC) and real-world data in both CRC and squamous cell carcinoma of

the

head and neck (SCCHN); updated efficacy and safety data for avelumab in metastatic

Merkel

cell carcinoma (mMCC) and urothelial carcinoma (UC) among other cancers; and new data

and

updates from Merck's rapidly evolving pipeline, including first stand-alone data in

metastatic triple negative breast cancer (mTNBC) from potential first-in-class ataxia

telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein (ATR) inhibitor M6620* (also known as VX-970).

"The Merck Oncology Franchise has had a momentous year, particularly with the

positive

regulatory milestones achieved for avelumab. The story continues to evolve at ESMO 2017

from our legacy with Erbitux to our diverse and robust pipeline which has potential

novel

molecules that could become new standards of care," said Luciano Rossetti, Executive

Vice

President, Global Head of Research & Development at the biopharma business of Merck.

"The

data reinforce Merck's commitment to pursuing approaches that will bring important

benefits to patients and transform the way cancer is treated."

Merck's innovative approach and strategic collaborations in oncology are

exemplified

through the ongoing partnership with Pfizer, and the significant progress of avelumab.

Granted two accelerated approvals** by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this

year, more recently the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the

European Medicines Agency (EMA) has adopted a positive opinion recommending the

approval

of avelumab as monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with mMCC. ESMO 2017

includes new data for avelumab in the treatment of mMCC, a rare and aggressive skin

cancer,

and 12-month follow-up data in pre-treated patients with locally advanced or

metastatic

UC. The progress of the broader JAVELIN clinical development program will also be

highlighted, with updated data in hard-to-treat tumors such as metastatic

adrenocortical

carcinoma (mACC).

The addition of the recently acquired Vertex DNA damage response (DDR) portfolio to

its own in-house DDR platform has positioned Merck as one of the key players in the DDR

field. The company's broad DDR portfolio includes inhibitors for enzymes of major DDR

pathways, such as ATR, DNA-PK and ATM. At ESMO 2017, first data will be presented for

ATR

inhibitor M6620 in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC). M6620 is currently

being investigated in several ongoing Phase I trials across a variety of tumor types.

Other pipeline updates will include data on the potential first-in-class dual

p70S6K/Atk inhibitor M2698*; and tepotinib***, a highly selective c-Met kinase

inhibitor,

in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Product related information contained herein is subject to local product approval

and

can therefore vary from country to country. For information relevant to your country,

please check in with local regulatory authorities.

*M6620, M2698 and tepotinib 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.

***Tepotinib is the proposed International Non-proprietary Name (INN) for the c-Met

kinase inhibitor (also known as MSC2156119J).

Notes to editors

Accepted Merck-supported key abstracts at ESMO 2017 are listed below. In addition,

a

number of abstracts with data from investigator-sponsored studies have been accepted,

including abstracts related to Erbitux (not listed).

Presentation

Date / Time

Title Lead Author Abstract # (CEST) Location

Avelumab

Poster sessions

JAVELIN Lung 100:

updated design of

a phase 3 trial of

avelumab vs

platinum doublet

chemotherapy as

first-line (1L)

treatment for

metastatic or

recurrent PD-L1+

non-small-cell

lung cancer September 9

(NSCLC) Reck M. 1377TiP 13:15 - 14:15 Hall 8

JAVELIN MERKEL

200: Avelumab

treatment in

chemotherapy-naïve

patients with

metastatic Merkel

cell carcinoma September 10

(mMCC). D'Angelo S.P. 1227P 13:15-14:15 Hall 8

Avelumab in

patients with

metastatic

adrenocortical

carcinoma (mACC):

results from the

JAVELIN Solid Le Tourneau September 10

Tumor trial C. 913P 13:15-14:15 Hall 8

Potential impact

of

avelumab+axitinib

(A+Ax) on tumor

size (TS) compared

with historical

data of sunitinib

(S) as evaluated

by a modeling and

simulation (MS) September 10

approach Zheng J. 882P 13:15-14:15 Hall 8

Avelumab treatment

of metastatic

urothelial

carcinoma (mUC) in

the phase 1b

JAVELIN Solid

Tumor study:

updated analysis

with greater than

or equal to6

months of

follow-up in all September 10

patients Apolo A.B. 856P 13:15-14:15 Hall 8