Merck and Pfizer release positive results for avelumab in merkel cell carcinoma

6 June 2016

Germany’s Merck (MRK: DE) and US pharma giant Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) plan to file for accelerated approval of avelumab for the treatment of patients with metastatic merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), it has been revealed.

The submission in the US and Europe will be based on positive results from a pivotal Phase II study which was presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting today (Monday).

In an exclusive interview with the Pharma Letter, Merck’s global head of research and development, Luciano Rosetti and Pfizer’s head of early development, translational and immune-oncology, Chris Boshoff, said the data was compelling.

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