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Merck KGAA/Pfizer Discontinue Phase III Avelumab/Talazoparib Combo Study In Ovarian Cancer

 
• By John Davis

The changing competitive landscape in ovarian cancer, as well as disappointing earlier results in the condition, has led to the big pharma alliance ending the Phase III JAVELIN Ovarian PARP 100 study.  

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Competitive Pressures Can Lead To A Rethink of Development Strategies • Source: Shutterstock

Merck KGaA and Pfizer Inc.’s decision to discontinue their Phase III study of PD-L1 inhibitor Bavencio (avelumab) plus Pfizer's PARP inhibitor, Talzenna (talazoparib) in previously untreated advanced ovarian cancer, announced March 19, was based partly on disappointing results from another study involving Bavencio reported at the end of last year.

Other reasons for the study discontinuation were the rapidly changing treatment landscape, including the approval of another PARP inhibitor in the front-line maintenance setting, the companies say. This was AstraZeneca PLC/Merck & Co. Inc.’s PARP inhibitor Lynparza (olaparib) which was approved by the US FDA for first-line use in BRACA-mutated ovarian cancer patients in December 2018, based on the results of the SOLO-1 study

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