Merck Serono begins phase III lung cancer drug trial

Merck Serono has announced the commencement of a phase III clinical study for tecemotide, its new lung cancer therapy.

The international START2 trial is designed to assess the efficacy and safety of the investigational MUC1 antigen-specific cancer immunotherapy in patients with unresectable, locally advanced stage III non-small cell lung cancer.

Around 1,000 patients are expected to be recruited for the study, which has the backing of the European Medicines Agency and US Food and Drug Administration. Overall survival improvements are the primary endpoint.

The design of the trial has been informed by the previous START study, which generated a number of promising findings, despite not meeting its primary goal.

Dr John Orloff, global head of clinical development at Merck Serono, said: "We are pleased that START2 is now underway, and feel confident that this study will address the appropriate gaps in understanding the potential role that tecemotide could play in the management of patients."

Worldwide, lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths in men and
the second most common in women.