Wilmington-based Incyte Corporation and New Jersey-based Merck today announced a collaboration that could combine key cancer drugs from the two companies.
The companies are investigating the combination of epacadostat, Incyte’s investigational oral selective IDO1 enzyme inhibitor, with KEYTRUDA, Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, in patients across five tumor types: metastatic melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, bladder cancer, renal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
A trial is underway for a study in metastatic melanoma. More studies are set to begin in for
“We look forward to our continued clinical collaboration, the initiation of these additional pivotal trials and to further exploring the potential of this novel immune-therapy combination as a treatment for patients with cancer,” said Dr. Steven Stein, chief medical officer for Incyte.
Incyte and Merck will share funding of the studies, and Merck will conduct the trials.
“Through these trials, our long-term goal is to help make a difference in the lives of people with a wide range of cancers,” said Dr. Roy Baynes, chief medical officer for Merck Research Laboratories.
