Incyte to launch late-stage drug studies with Merck

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Incyte Corporation, Wilmington,  known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, announced the decision to advance the clinical development program investigating the combination of epacadostat, Incyte’s investigational oral selective IDO1 inhibitor, with Keytruda, Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy.

“We are very pleased to announce the decision with Merck to initiate additional Phase 3 studies that will further evaluate the clinical utility of epacadostat in combination with Keytruda.

With the expansion of the clinical development program, the companies plan to initiate \studies of epacadostat in combination with Keytruda  in four additional tumors: non-small cell lung cancer, renal cell carcinoma, bladder cancer and squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Presentations of data from the ongoing studies of epacadostat in combination with Keytruda which support this decision, are expected at upcoming medical meetings.

“We are very pleased to announce the decision with Merck to initiate additional Phase 3 studies that will further evaluate the clinical utility of epacadostat in combination with Keytruda,” said Steven Stein, M.D., Incyte’s Chief Medical Officer. “Data from across the ECHO development program for epacadostat continues to be accrued, including from the ECHO-202 Phase 2 cohorts in combination with Keytruda, which support the decision to move forward into pivotal studies beyond melanoma. We look forward to initiation of these new Phase 3 trials as we seek to help improve clinical outcomes for patients with these cancers.”

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“The expansion of our clinical trial program with Incyte is an important component of our comprehensive approach to investigating the potential for Keytruda  in combination with promising compounds, such as epacadostat, to help make a difference in the lives of people with these cancers,” said Dr. Roy Baynes, senior vice president, head of clinical development, and Chief Medical Officer, Merck Research Laboratories.

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