Company now plans to provide results of ongoing strategic pipeline review in January
CAMBRIDGE, MA, USA I December 21, 2016 I Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: MACK) today announced that, following a recent independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) recommendation and subsequent futility analysis, it has decided to stop the Phase 2 HERMIONE study of MM-302 (HER2 antibody-targeted liposomal doxorubicin) in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer patients who had previously been treated with trastuzumab (Herceptin®), pertuzumab (Perjeta®) and ado-trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1, Kadcyla®).
The decision to stop the trial was made following the DSMB’s opinion that continuing would be unlikely to demonstrate benefit over the comparator treatments. Subsequent to this recommendation, a futility assessment was performed that confirmed the DSMB’s opinion. Both the treatment and control arms were found to have shorter than expected median progression free survival.
Importantly, there were no new or unexpected safety concerns. Patients currently enrolled in the trial may choose to continue on their assigned treatment based upon discussion with their study physician.
“Late line HER2-positive breast cancer is very difficult to treat, especially in this new and previously unstudied group of patients who appear to experience rapid cancer progression following treatment with trastuzumab, pertuzumab and ado-trastuzumab emtansine,” said Istvan Molnar, MD, Vice President of Clinical Development at Merrimack Pharmaceuticals. “While we are disappointed with this outcome, we would like to thank the study Steering Committee, the investigators and, most importantly, the patients who participated in the HERMIONE trial. We will report our learnings from this study at a later date.”
In light of this development, Merrimack now expects to provide further details about MM-302, as well as the results of its full pipeline review, in January.
SOURCE: Merrimack Pharmaceuticals
Post Views: 152
Company now plans to provide results of ongoing strategic pipeline review in January
CAMBRIDGE, MA, USA I December 21, 2016 I Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: MACK) today announced that, following a recent independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) recommendation and subsequent futility analysis, it has decided to stop the Phase 2 HERMIONE study of MM-302 (HER2 antibody-targeted liposomal doxorubicin) in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer patients who had previously been treated with trastuzumab (Herceptin®), pertuzumab (Perjeta®) and ado-trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1, Kadcyla®).
The decision to stop the trial was made following the DSMB’s opinion that continuing would be unlikely to demonstrate benefit over the comparator treatments. Subsequent to this recommendation, a futility assessment was performed that confirmed the DSMB’s opinion. Both the treatment and control arms were found to have shorter than expected median progression free survival.
Importantly, there were no new or unexpected safety concerns. Patients currently enrolled in the trial may choose to continue on their assigned treatment based upon discussion with their study physician.
“Late line HER2-positive breast cancer is very difficult to treat, especially in this new and previously unstudied group of patients who appear to experience rapid cancer progression following treatment with trastuzumab, pertuzumab and ado-trastuzumab emtansine,” said Istvan Molnar, MD, Vice President of Clinical Development at Merrimack Pharmaceuticals. “While we are disappointed with this outcome, we would like to thank the study Steering Committee, the investigators and, most importantly, the patients who participated in the HERMIONE trial. We will report our learnings from this study at a later date.”
In light of this development, Merrimack now expects to provide further details about MM-302, as well as the results of its full pipeline review, in January.
SOURCE: Merrimack Pharmaceuticals
Post Views: 152
