Merck Sharp and Dohme’s new cancer drug accepted for EU review

Merck Sharp and Dohme and Endocyte have announced that their new personalised therapy for ovarian cancer has been accepted for review by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

A marketing authorisation application filing for the novel investigational cancer candidate vintafolide has been accepted alongside a submission for an accompanying companion diagnostic imaging agent, etarfolatide.

This will facilitate the targeted treatment of patients with folate-receptor positive platinum-resistant ovarian cancer in combination with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, with both agents having been granted orphan drug designation.

Dr Gary Gilliland, senior vice-president and oncology franchise head at Merck Research Laboratories, said: "The acceptance of the EMA filing for vintafolide is an important milestone for Merck and Endocyte. Vintafolide is designed to preferentially target cancer cells that actively take up folate via the folate receptor."

Last month, the company announced data from the phase III trial Pursue, which demonstrated the benefits offered by its new fertility drug corifollitropin alfa for controlled ovarian stimulation.