CAMBRIDGE, MA, USA I June 19, 2017 I Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: MACK) today announced that it has enrolled the last patient in the ongoing CARRIE study, a Phase 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial, evaluating MM-141 (istiratumab) in combination with standard of care in previously untreated patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.  MM-141 is a bispecific antibody targeting both the Insulin Like Growth Factor 1 Receptor (IGF-1R) and the HER3 receptor, and is a potent inhibitor of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

“Today, as we recognize the 10th anniversary of the National Pancreatic Cancer Advocacy Day, we are marking a significant milestone with the CARRIE study, which reflects both the significant need for new therapies in metastatic pancreatic cancer and the potential of MM-141 to play a critical role in addressing that need,” said Richard Peters, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Merrimack. “We are moving with great urgency in this study and in each of our clinical-stage development programs to investigate a biomarker-driven treatment strategy and efficiently establish the role of our therapies for well-defined patient groups. With enrollment now complete, we look forward to reporting results from this trial in the first half of 2018.”

The CARRIE study is evaluating MM-141 in patients with high levels of the IGF-1 protein, which is known to play a role in tumor proliferation and metastasis. Patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer and high levels of free IGF-1 were randomized 1:1 to receive either MM-141 plus nab-paclitaxel/gemcitabine chemotherapy or placebo plus chemotherapy. The primary endpoint is progression-free survival, with objective response rate, disease control rate, duration of response and overall survival as secondary measures.

“On behalf of our entire team at Merrimack, I would like to thank our investigators and their staff for their dedication in ensuring the rapid execution of this study, as well as patients and their families for their commitment to advance pancreatic cancer care through participation in this trial,” said Vasileios Askoxylakis, M.D., Ph.D., Medical Director and Project Leader for MM-141.

About Merrimack
Merrimack is a biopharmaceutical company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts that is outthinking cancer to ensure that patients and their families live fulfilling lives. Its mission is to transform cancer care through the smart design and development of targeted solutions based on the deep understanding of cancer pathways and biological markers. All of Merrimack’s product candidates, including three in clinical studies and several others in preclinical development, fit into its strategy of 1) understanding the biological problems it is trying to solve, 2) designing specific solutions and 3) developing those solutions for biomarker-selected patients. This three-pronged strategy seeks to ensure optimal patient outcomes. For more information, please visit Merrimack’s website at www.merrimack.com.

SOURCE: Merrimack Pharmaceuticals