Merck Sharp and Dohme and Lilly expand immuno-oncology collaboration

Merck Sharp and Dohme has expanded its immuno-oncology collaboration with Lilly to include an additional research project.

The companies will be seeking to evaluate abemaciclib, Lilly's cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 inhibitor, in combination with Merck's Keytruda in a phase I study spanning multiple tumour types.

Based on data from prior phase I trials, the collaboration has the potential to progress to phase II trials in patients who have been diagnosed with either metastatic breast cancer or non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Lilly will be the sponsor of the planned studies, with enrolment set to begin in early 2016. This latest collaboration follows on from successful work carried out by the two companies in the past.

Dr Eric Rubin, vice-president and therapeutic area head for oncology early-stage development at Merck Research Laboratories, said: "Strategic collaborations such as this one reinforce the commitment we have to bringing new combination treatments to the forefront for people with cancer."

This comes after the partners agreed to evaluate a combination of Lilly's Alimta and Merck's Keytruda in a pivotal phase III study in first-line non-squamous NSCLC last month.