Amgen and Merck Sharpe and Dohme agree drug research alliance

Amgen and Merck Sharp and Dohme will be collaborating on new research into the benefits of a promising new technique for treating melanoma.

The study will combine talimogene laherparepvec, an investigational oncolytic immunotherapy, with the investigational anti-PD-1 immunotherapy MK-3475 in the treatment of patients with mid to late-stage melanoma.

Set to commence in autumn 2014, the phase Ib/II study programme aims to assess the safety and efficacy of the new combination, with the research to be conducted in two parts.

Melanoma is the most aggressive and serious form of skin cancer, with 132,000 cases of the disease occurring globally each year.

Dr David Chang, vice-president of global development at Amgen, said: "We look forward to working with Merck on this collaboration to evaluate the potential of these two novel immunotherapies to improve clinical outcomes for patients."

This comes after the firm announced a new alliance with Illumina last month, focusing on the development of a new companion diagnostic test for the Amgen oncology agent Vectibix.