Merck & Co Inc said told a scientific meeting in San Diego that its candidate immunotherapy for house dust mite allergy showed a significant dose-and time-dependent reduction in a nasal symptom score. The therapy is called MK-8237.
Genmab A/S said that its partner, Janssen Biotech Inc, is set to begin a Phase 3 study of its monoclonal antibody targeting CD38 in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma. Daratumumab has received ‘breakthrough therapy’ designation from the FDA.
Roche has announced that the data monitoring committee overseeing its Phase 3 study of onartuzumab for patients with MET-positive non-small lung cancer has recommended that the study be stopped due to a lack of “clinically meaningful efficacy.”
Eli Lilly and Company’s experimental drug for Type 2 diabetes, dulaglutide, has met its primary endpoint of non-inferiority in a Phase 3 trial where it was being compared with Novo Nordisk’s Victoza. Both drugs are glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists.
An observational study of up to 10,000 patients with suspected coronary artery disease is underway with the goal of finding new biomarkers and disease-related pathways for use in the development of diagnostic tools and treatments for cardiovascular disease.
Eli Lilly and Company said that its antibody therapy, ramucirumab, has improved overall survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer in a global Phase 3 trial. Ramucirumab inhibits the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2.
Novartis said that an experimental drug for advanced basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer, met its primary endpoint in a Phase 2 study. The treatment, LDE225, is a molecule that regulates the hedgehog signaling pathway.
Cellectis SA has reached an agreement with privately-owned Laboratoires Servier to develop and commercialise allogeneic T cell therapies for cancer. Under the agreement Servier will make an upfront payment of $10 million, and up to $140 million for each of six new products.
Shire Plc of Ireland said that two pivotal Phase 3 studies of the central nervous system drug Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) have failed to show efficacy in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).
Amgen Inc and Merck & Co Inc have announced plans to collaborate on the development of a new combination therapy for advanced melanoma. This will combine Amgen’s oncolytic virus product with Merck’s PD-1 inhibitor.