Following a missed primary endpoint in its phase III study in treating anti-PD-1-refractory advanced melanoma, Idera Pharmaceuticals Inc. is considering stopping the registrational trial of its synthetic Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) agonist or pressing on toward the clinical trial’s second primary endpoint.
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Amyndas, Bluesky, Clovis, Eisai, Idera, Incyte, Merck & Co., Sarepta.
Shares of mRNA therapeutics specialist Translate Bio Inc. (NASDAQ:TBIO) fell 30.9% to $17.76 on March 18 over concerns about a new interim analysis of phase I/II data for its cystic fibrosis (CF) candidate, MRT-5005. Several dosing regimens of the inhaled candidate failed to improve a key measure of lung function vs. placebo, in contrast to an earlier readout on other doses tested in the ongoing study, called Restore-CF.
Libtayo (cemiplimab-rwlc) became the first PD-1 therapy to score a phase III win in cervical cancer, a pleasing development not only for investors in Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. and partner Sanofi SA but for patients with the stubborn disease.
DUBLIN – Immatics NV reported unexpected signs of efficacy in a first cut of data from several phase I trials of its autologous engineered T-cell therapies in heavily pretreated patients with recurrent or refractory solid tumors.
Clinical updates, including trial initiations, enrollment status and data readouts and publications: Alessa, Erx, Eyenovia, GT, Harmony, Sage, Spruce, Versantis.
When Amgen Inc. won approval of the oncolytic virus (OV) therapy Imlygic (talimogene laherparepvec, t-vec) for melanoma in late October 2015, hopes ran high for the space. The mood has since faded in some quarters – but hardly all.
Less than two months after scrubbing a phase III non-small-cell lung cancer trial of the bifunctional fusion protein immunotherapy bintrafusp alfa, Merck KGaA said a phase II test of the candidate in another indication, biliary tract cancer, has missed a predefined threshold that would have enabled a regulatory filing for it. Both studies are part of a rich alliance between Merck and licensee Glaxosmithkline plc.
In a tough indication and a space crowded with developers, Eli Lilly and Co.’s phase III study of the monoclonal antibody mirikizumab for treating moderate to severe ulcerative colitis made a mark by meeting its primary endpoint of clinical remission and all key secondary endpoints compared to placebo.