Merck and Syndax collaborate on entinostat/Keytruda combination trials

2 April 2015

US pharma giant Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK) has entered into a clinical trial collaboration with Syndax Pharmaceuticals to evaluate the safety and efficacy of combining Syndax’s entinostat with Merck’s Keytruda (pembrolizumab).

The Phase Ib/II study will evaluate the combination in patients with either advanced non-small cell lung cancer or melanoma, and is expected to begin enrollment in the second half of 2015.

Entinostat is an oral, highly-selective distone deacetylase inhibitor granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation in combination with hormone therapy in advanced hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. It is currently in Phase III testing for this indication. Keytruda is a humanized monoclonal antibody blocking the interaction between PD-1 and its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2.

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