Merck Expands Immuno-Oncology Efforts, Calls MK-3475 A Pipeline In Itself

12 May 2014

Rolling BLA for MK-3475 accepted for priority review with a PDUFA date of Oct. 28. Merck is undertaking or plans trials testing the anti-PD-1 candidate in 10 types of cancer and is seeking response signals in another 20 tumor types.

Though it is touting the potential of its anti-PD-1 antibody lambrolizumab (MK-3475) to be a “pipeline in a product,” Merck & Co. Inc. is also looking to expand beyond the checkpoint inhibitor as it transforms into a biopharmaceutical firm more focused on oncology and particularly immunological approaches to fighting various types of cancer.

The New Jersey pharma is moving an agonistic GITR antibody into Phase I in colon cancer and has an LAG3...