Bavencio fails Phase III for ovarian cancer

Hopes for Merck KGaA (Xetra:MRK) and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) to get ahead in the ovarian cancer space, where no PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors are approved, were delayed Monday after the partners reported that PD-L1 inhibitor Bavencio avelumab missed the primary endpoints in the Phase III JAVELIN Ovarian 200 trial to treat platinum-resistant or -refractory ovarian cancer.

On the 566-patient trial's primary endpoints, Bavencio alone and in combination with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin both failed to significantly improve overall survival (OS) (HR=1.14, one-sided p=0.8253; HR=0.89, one-sided p=0.2082) and progression-free survival (PFS) (HR=1.68, one-sided p>0.99; HR=0.78, one-sided p=0.0301) vs. chemotherapy alone...