Merck KGaA, Pfizer deal
Pfizer partnered with Merck to co-develop and co-commercialize Merck’s MSB0010718C as a single agent and in combination with other pipeline candidates. The human IgG1 mAb against programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 ( PD-L1; B7-H1; CD274) is in Phase II trials as second-line therapy for metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) and in Phase I to treat solid tumors.
Possible combinations include pairing MSB0010718C with Pfizer’s small molecule drugs Xalkori crizotinib and Inlyta axitinib, as well as several of its investigational antibodies and antibody drug conjugates. Xalkori, a dual inhibitor of c-Met receptor tyrosine kinase and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) and their oncogenic variants, is approved to treat advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Inlyta is an inhibitor of VEGF receptors 1, 2 and 3, which is approved to treat renal cell carcinoma (RCC). ...