EMD Serono to Present New Cancer Research at ASCO 2024

EMD Serono, the healthcare division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, has announced the presentation of new data from its oncology portfolio at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. The meeting, held from May 31 to June 4 in Chicago, will feature 31 abstracts from EMD Serono, including seven oral presentations. These presentations will cover more than 10 different tumor types and will highlight the company's cutting-edge oncology pipeline, which aims to target cancer more effectively.

Victoria Zazulina, M.D., Head of Development Unit, Oncology at EMD Serono, emphasized the significance of this new data. She noted that the research presented at ASCO demonstrates the progress of their investigational treatments and standard-of-care therapies, aiming to enhance the lives of cancer patients.

Key Data Presentations

1. M9140 (Abstract 3000):
- Study Details: This is a Phase I trial assessing the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and early clinical activity of M9140, an investigational antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting CEACAM5 in metastatic colorectal cancer.
- Findings: The study involved 40 heavily pretreated patients across seven dose levels, showing promising clinical activity and a manageable safety profile. The randomized dose-expansion part of the study is still ongoing.

2. Tuvusertib (Abstracts 3018, 2612, 2614):
- Study Details: Tuvusertib is an oral ATR inhibitor from EMD Serono’s DNA damage response (DDR) inhibitors portfolio. Data from the DDRiver™ Clinical Trials program included its use in combination with niraparib, a PARP inhibitor, and other treatments.
- Findings: The Phase I study highlighted manageable safety and preliminary efficacy in patients with advanced solid tumors. The combination of tuvusertib with other therapies, including the immune checkpoint inhibitor BAVENCIO® (avelumab), shows potential for further development.

3. Xevinapant (Abstract e18039):
- Study Details: Xevinapant, an oral IAP inhibitor, was evaluated in combination with chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for patients with unresected locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
- Findings: The post-hoc analysis confirmed earlier findings, showing a significant reduction in disease progression risk and increased response rates compared to placebo plus CRT.

4. BAVENCIO® (avelumab) (Abstracts 4566, 4567):
- Study Details: BAVENCIO's efficacy and safety were analyzed in the JAVELIN Bladder 100 Phase III study for patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma.
- Findings: The new analyses validated BAVENCIO as a standard-of-care treatment, particularly showing pronounced efficacy in patients with low tumor burden or mixed histologic subtypes, supporting its first-line maintenance use.

5. TEPMETKO® (tepotinib) (Abstract 8575):
- Study Details: TEPMETKO's health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes were assessed in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring METex14 skipping alterations.
- Findings: Patients showed stable HRQoL during treatment, with improvements in symptoms like cough. The results are consistent with findings from the overall population in the Phase II VISION study.

Additional Activities and Highlights

- EMD Serono will also host a Medical Evening Lecture on June 2nd, focusing on new developments in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (LA SCCHN).
- Noteworthy abstracts related to Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany’s research will be presented throughout the ASCO meeting, featuring studies across various tumor types and treatment strategies.

EMD Serono's presentations at ASCO 2024 underscore their commitment to advancing cancer care through innovative treatments and comprehensive clinical research. The data highlights the potential of their investigational therapies and supports their ongoing efforts to improve outcomes for cancer patients worldwide.

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