MSD announces MK-0457 results

Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals have announced the results of a phase I clinical study of MK-0457, known by Vertex as VX-680. The investigational small molecule Aurora kinase inhibitor resulted in clinical activity in some patients with chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML).

It also demonstrated a response in patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphocytic leukaemia (Ph+ ALL) with the T315I BCR-ABL mutation and those with refractory JAK-2 positive myeloproliferative diseases (MPD)

Stephen H Friend, executive vice president of Oncology at MSD Research Laboratories, said: “Many patients with leukaemia develop resistance to standard anti-cancer therapies such as imatinib because of a mutation of the disease.”

He added that patient treatments are often limited by T315I, a common mutation in BCR-ABL, while the company’s investigational compound is the first to elicit clinical activity in patients with this mutation.

The company indicated that MK-0457 had a “potent” effect and should be studied in conjunction with other chemotherapy agents for a range of types of leukaemia.

Also this week, MSD announced that it has entered into a partnership with Iera Pharmaceuticals to incorporate that company’s technology into MSD-developed vaccines for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, infectious diseases and cancer.