Merck, Pfizer report early data for PD-L1/ALK inhibitor combos

Merck KGaA (Xetra:MRK) and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) reported data from the Phase Ib/II JAVELIN Lung 101 trial evaluating the partners' PD-L1 inhibitor Bavencio avelumab in combination with Pfizer's anaplastic lymphoma kinase inhibitors to treat previously treated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The data were released late Wednesday in an abstract ahead of the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago.

In the Phase Ib portion of the trial, 12 ALK-negative patients received Bavencio plus Xalkori crizotinib and 28 ALK-positive patients received Bavencio plus lorlatinib (PF-06463922). All ALK-negative patients received prior anticancer therapy and ALK-positive patients received a median of two prior ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs)...