Pfizer and Merck KGaA to present new avelumab data at ECC 2015

Pfizer and Merck KGaA will be presenting new safety and efficacy data for their collaboratively developed drug avelumab at the forthcoming European Cancer Congress (ECC).

Six abstracts on studies evaluating the potential role of programmed death-ligand 1 inhibition and the safety and efficacy of the avelumab immunotherapy will be presented at this year's conference, which will be held in Vienna at the end of the month.

New data will be presented in urothelial, mesothelioma and gastric/gastroesophageal cancers, with additional non-small cell lung cancer and ovarian cancer data from phase Ib trials to build on those previously presented at the recent American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting.

Currently, more than 1,000 cancer patients have been treated with avelumab in the phase I/Ib JAVELIN Solid Tumour clinical programme, and more than 15 tumour types are under investigation.

Dr Mace Rothenberg, senior vice-president of clinical development and medical affairs and chief medical officer for Pfizer Oncology, said: "We believe that the talent, resources, pipeline products and commitment that each partner brings to this collaboration position us well to become potential leaders in the field of immuno-oncology."