A key study of an Incyte Corp. drug and Merck’s Keytruda ended in failure, sending stock in the Wilmington company downward.
The late-stage study combined Incyte’s epacadostat in combination with Keytruda involved patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma (skin cancer).
It was determined that the study did not meet the goal when compared to using Keytruda by itself.
The study was halted.
Incyte shares dropped 19 percent, shedding about $3 billion of its stock market value. Much larger Merck saw a 1.8 percent drop in its share price.
“While we are disappointed that this study did not confirm the efficacy of epacadostat in combination with Keytruda in patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma, data from ECHO-301/KEYNOTE-252, including analyses of an extensive biomarker panel, will contribute to our understanding of the role of IDO1 inhibition in combination with PD-1 antagonists, and may inform our broader epacadostat clinical development program,” said Steven Stein, M.D., chief medical officer, Incyte. “We remain dedicated to transforming the treatment of cancer and will continue to explore how IDO1 inhibition and other novel mechanisms can potentially improve outcomes for patients in need.”
Epacadostat has been viewed as a promising drug for Incyte, which is working to build a pipeline that complements its billion dollars a year blood cancer drug, Jakafi.
The Endpoints site said the findings of the study cast doubt on the use of drug combos in fighting cancer.
