Merck KGaA initiates Stimuvax phase III study

Merck KGaA has announced the enrolment of the first patient in its international phase III clinical trial investigating the efficacy and safety of Stimuvax (BLP25 liposome vaccine) as a treatment for patients with non-small cell lung cancer NSCLC.

The stimulating targeted antigenic responses to NSCLC (Start) trial will involve over 1,300 patients in 30 countries worldwide and is the first to assess a cancer vaccine in unresectable stage III in NSCLC.

Stimuvac is a novel cancer vaccine that aims to induce an immune response to cancer cells that express protein antigen MUC1 by assisting the body in identifying and destroying the cancer cells responsible.

MUC1 is over-expressed in a range of common cancers including breast, colorectal and lung cancers.

Dr Frances Shephard, director of medical oncology at Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, said: “Patients with advanced lung cancer are in need of new therapies that effectively target cancer cells while providing better safety and tolerability.”

He added that Stimuvac could potentially assist the help the natural immune system destroy cancer cells without adversely affecting healthy cells in the body.

Last month, Merck announced that it would be collaborating with Archemix on the development of aptamer-based pharmaceuticals for the treatment of cancer.