Merck touts innovative oncology pipeline

While cancer-focused pharma and biotech are busy presenting their latest research achievements at the ongoing American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting, Germany’s Merck KGaA (MRK: DE) also held its own Oncology R&D Update Call.

The company said that, this year, it plans to open multiple new Phase Ib and II clinical studies for tuvusertib and M9466, key assets from its broad portfolio of DNA damage response (DDR) inhibitors.

It has advanced its lead antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), M9140, to Phase Ib based on positive signs of clinical benefit, and plans to expand to additional tumors, and has progressed M3554, its next ADC based on the company’s proprietary exatecan-payload platform, into clinical development.