Merck Not To Pursue Evofosfamide In Soft Tissue Sarcoma And Pancreatic Cancer

(RTTNews) - Merck (MKGAY.PK) announced the company is not planning to file for approval of evofosfamide in advanced soft tissue sarcoma and advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The decision was made in light of the results from two Phase III studies of evofosfamide in combination with chemotherapy in these two types of cancer, as reported by Threshold Pharmaceuticals Inc. The company will be making a quick decision on the future of the ongoing evofosfamide clinical program.

"Despite seeing signs of activity in pancreatic cancer, pre-specified primary endpoints were not met in both studies and therefore the data do not support filing in these indications," said Luciano Rossetti, Head of Global Research and Development of Merck's biopharma busines.

Merck said the company will now be redeploying its resources into high-profile future products, such as avelumab and all other priority programs in oncology, immuno-oncology and immunology.

Evofosfamide is an investigational hypoxia-activated prodrug of a bis-alkylating agent that is preferentially activated under severe tumor hypoxic condition. Merck signed a global license and co-development agreement for evofosfamide with Threshold Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in February 2012, with an option for Threshold to co-commercialize in the U.S.