ALAMEDA, CALIF. & RAHWAY, N.J., Oct. 14, 2024 – Exelixis, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXEL) and Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, today announced that the companies have entered into a clinical development collaboration to evaluate the combination of Exelixis’ investigational tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) zanzalintinib with Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy KEYTRUDA ® (pembrolizumab) in a Phase 3 pivotal trial for the treatment of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), and zanzalintinib with WELIREG ® (belzutifan), Merck’s oral hypoxia-inducible factor-2 alpha (HIF-2α) inhibitor, in a Phase 1/2 trial and two Phase 3 pivotal trials for the treatment of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). “This collaboration underscores our belief in zanzalintinib’s potential to drive patient benefit in combination with immunotherapy or targeted therapy in HNSCC and RCC indications that have unmet clinical need,” said Amy Peterson, M.D., executive vice
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First and only hypoxia-inducible factor-2 alpha (HIF-2α) inhibitor approved for these adult patients with advanced RCC This approval of WELIREG marks the first time a new treatment has been approved in a novel therapeutic class in advanced RCC since 2015 Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved WELIREG, an oral hypoxia-inducible factor-2 alpha (HIF-2α) inhibitor, for the treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) following a programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) or programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor and a vascular endothelial growth factor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (VEGF-TKI). The approval is based on statistically significant and clinically meaningful results from LITESPARK-005, which is the only trial in advanced RCC to specifically evaluate patients who have progressed following a PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor and a VEGF-TKI. In the trial, WELIREG
At a pre-specified interim analysis in LITESPARK-005, WELIREG reduced the risk of disease progression or death compared to everolimus First Phase 3 trial to show positive results in patients with advanced RCC following both immune checkpoint and anti-angiogenic therapies in later lines of treatment Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, today announced results from the Phase 3 LITESPARK-005 trial investigating WELIREG, Merck’s first-in-class, oral hypoxia-inducible factor-2 alpha (HIF-2α) inhibitor, for the treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) that progressed following PD-1/L1 and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) targeted therapies. In the study, WELIREG demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in one of the trial’s dual primary endpoints of progression-free survival (PFS) and in a key secondary endpoint of objective response rate (ORR) compared to everolimus. These late-breaking data are
Acceptance based on results from the Phase 3 LITESPARK-005 trial, which showed a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival compared to everolimus in patients with advanced RCC that progressed following PD-1/L1 and VEGF-TKI therapies If approved, WELIREG would provide a new, novel mechanism of action for patients with advanced RCC in need of new options Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted and granted priority review for a supplemental new drug application (sNDA) seeking approval for WELIREG, Merck’s oral hypoxia-inducible factor-2 alpha (HIF-2α) inhibitor, for the treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) following immune checkpoint and anti-angiogenic therapies. The sNDA is based on data from the LITESPARK-005 trial, in which WELIREG demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful
First positive Phase 3 results for WELIREG from LITESPARK-005 showed statistically significant improvements in PFS versus everolimus in these patients Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, today announced topline results from LITESPARK-005, the first positive Phase 3 trial investigating WELIREG, Merck’s oral hypoxia-inducible factor-2 alpha (HIF-2α) inhibitor. LITESPARK-005 is evaluating WELIREG for the treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) that has progressed following PD-1/L1 checkpoint inhibitor and vascular endothelial growth factor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (VEGF-TKI) therapies. In the trial, WELIREG showed a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) compared to everolimus, based on a pre-specified interim analysis conducted by an independent Data Monitoring Committee. A statistically significant improvement in the trial’s key secondary endpoint of objective
WELIREG Approved for Adult Patients With VHL Disease Who Require Therapy for Associated Renal Cell Carcinoma, Central Nervous System Hemangioblastomas, or Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors, Not Requiring Immediate Surgery WELIREG Expands Merck’s Oncology Portfolio as the First and Only Systemic Therapy Approved for These Patients With VHL Disease Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved WELIREG, an oral hypoxia-inducible factor-2 alpha (HIF-2α) inhibitor, for the treatment of adult patients with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease who require therapy for associated renal cell carcinoma (RCC), central nervous system (CNS) hemangioblastomas, or pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNET), not requiring immediate surgery. The recommended dose of WELIREG (40 mg tablets) is 120 mg once daily until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The approval is based on results from the
WELIREG® (belzutifan) tablets, for oral use
Therapeutic Areas
Oncology
Application Based on Objective Response Rate From Phase 2 Trial Evaluating Belzutifan in Patients With Von Hippel-Lindau Disease-Associated Renal Cell Carcinoma New Filing Further Strengthens Merck’s Expanding and Diverse Oncology Portfolio Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted and granted priority review for a New Drug Application (NDA) for the hypoxia-inducible factor-2 alpha (HIF-2α) inhibitor belzutifan (pronounced bell-ZOO-ti-fan), a novel investigational candidate in Merck’s oncology pipeline, for the potential treatment of patients with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease-associated renal cell carcinoma (RCC), not requiring immediate surgery. This NDA is based on data from the Phase 2 Study-004 trial, in which belzutifan showed a confirmed overall response rate of 36.1% (n=22/61) (95% CI: 24.2-49.4) in patients with VHL disease-associated RCC. The FDA has set a Prescription
Merck Announces Third-Quarter 2024 Financial Results
Total Worldwide Sales Were $16.7 Billion, an Increase of 4% From Third Quarter 2023; Excluding the Impact of Foreign Exchange, Growth Was 7% KEYTRUDA Sales Grew 17% to $7.4 Billion; Excluding the Impact of Foreign Exchange, Sales Grew 21% WINREVAIR Sales Were $149 Million; U.S. Launch of WINREVAIR Gaining Momentum; Received Approval in the EU Animal Health Sales Grew 6% to $1.5 Billion; Excluding the Impact of Foreign Exchange, Sales Grew 11% GAAP EPS Was $1.24; Non-GAAP EPS Was $1.57; GAAP and Non-GAAP EPS Include a Net Charge of $0.79 per Share Related to Certain Business Development Transactions Achieved Significant Milestones in Vaccine Programs CAPVAXIVE Recommended by the CDC’s ACIP for Pneumococcal Vaccination in Adults 50 Years of Age and Older Presented Positive Results From Clinical Studies Evaluating Clesrovimab (MK-1654), an Investigational RSV Preventative Monoclonal Antibody for Infants Entering Their First RSV Season Data Presented for Four Approved Medicines and Six
https://www.merck.com/news/merck-announces-third-quarter-2024-financial-results/
Overall survival (OS) data for KEYTRUDA ® (pembrolizumab) in earlier stages of women’s cancers, including high-risk early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (KEYNOTE-522) and high-risk locally advanced cervical cancer (KEYNOTE-A18), selected for Presidential Symposium sessions Ten-year OS data from KEYNOTE-006 and final OS data from KEYNOTE-811 reinforce important role of KEYTRUDA for certain patients with advanced melanoma and HER2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma Data presented at ESMO highlight progress in Merck’s pipeline of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), including patritumab deruxtecan (HER3-DXd), sacituzumab tirumotecan (sac-TMT) and ifinatamab deruxtecan (I-DXd) Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, today announced that new data for four approved medicines and six pipeline candidates in more than 20 types of cancer will be presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2024 in Barcelona,