Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, to Highlight Cancer Science Advances

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, has announced that new findings from its oncology portfolio will be presented at the 2024 ASCO Annual Meeting in Chicago. The company's research spans over 31 accepted abstracts across more than 10 tumor types, highlighting innovative treatments targeting cancer's core vulnerabilities.

Key developments include:

1. First-In-Human Data for M9140:
M9140, an investigational antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting CEACAM5 with a topoisomerase 1 inhibitor payload, shows promise in treating metastatic colorectal cancer. Data from a Phase I trial involving 40 heavily pretreated patients indicate encouraging clinical activity and a manageable safety profile. The randomized dose-expansion part of the study is ongoing.

2. Tuvusertib, a DNA Damage Response Inhibitor:
Tuvusertib is the lead asset in the company’s portfolio of DNA damage response (DDR) inhibitors. Phase I data reveal that tuvusertib, when combined with the PARP inhibitor niraparib, shows manageable safety and preliminary efficacy in patients with advanced solid tumors. Other presentations highlight its combination with the ATM inhibitor lartesertib and the immune checkpoint inhibitor BAVENCIO (avelumab), confirming its potential for combination treatments.

3. Xevinapant in Advanced Head and Neck Cancer:
New analyses of xevinapant, an investigational oral inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAP), reveal improved efficacy outcomes when combined with chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in patients with unresected locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (LA SCCHN). The data show consistent outcomes from a blinded independent review, demonstrating a significant reduction in the risk of disease progression or death compared to placebo plus CRT.

4. BAVENCIO in Urothelial Carcinoma:
Long-term analyses from the Phase III JAVELIN Bladder 100 study confirm the benefit of BAVENCIO first-line maintenance therapy in advanced urothelial carcinoma. Notably, patients with low tumor burden and mixed histologic subtypes showed pronounced efficacy with BAVENCIO plus best supportive care, reinforcing its role as a standard-of-care treatment.

5. Health-Related Quality of Life with TEPMETKO in NSCLC:
TEPMETKO, an oral MET inhibitor, demonstrated stable health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes in the Phase II VISION study for patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring MET exon 14 skipping alterations. This analysis highlighted trends for improvement in symptoms like cough, consistent with overall population results.

Additional Highlights and Presentations at ASCO 2024:
- An oral presentation on the first-in-human data for M9140 will be featured under the Developmental Therapeutics—Molecularly Targeted Agents and Tumor Biology session.
- Tuvusertib's combination trials with niraparib, lartesertib, and avelumab will be discussed in multiple sessions, emphasizing its potential in treating various solid tumors.
- Post-hoc analyses for xevinapant and its efficacy in combination with CRT will be shared, further validating its use in LA SCCHN.
- Presentations will also cover long-term outcomes from the JAVELIN Renal 101 trial in advanced renal cell carcinoma, showcasing avelumab's efficacy.

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, aims to advance cancer care by exploring synergistic mechanisms and innovative treatments while maximizing the impact of existing therapies. The company continues to develop novel medicines to improve the lives of those living with cancer, aspiring to transform more cancer patients into cancer survivors.

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