Array BioPharm, Merck & Co. Form Immunotherapy Pact

Merck & Co. Inc. has formed a clinical-trial collaboration agreement with Array BioPharma, a pharmaceutical company developing small-molecule cancer drugs, to investigate the safety and efficacy of Array’s MEK inhibitor, binimetinib, with Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, Keytruda (pembrolizumab), in metastatic colorectal cancer patients with microsatellite stable tumors. Keytruda is Merck & Co.’s leading immunotherapy with 2016 sales of $1.4 billion.

The trial is expected to establish a recommended dose regimen of binimetinib and Keytruda as well as explore the preliminary anti-tumor activity of several regimens. The study is expected to begin in the second half of 2017. Results from this first study will be used to determine optimal approaches to further clinical development of these combinations. The trial will be sponsored by Merck.

Source: Array BioPharma

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