Investing.com - Financial Markets Worldwide
Get 40% Off
Get 40% Off
👀 👁 🧿 All eyes on Biogen, up +4,56% after posting earnings. Our AI picked it in March 2024.
Which stocks will surge next?
Unlock AI-picked Stocks

Merck, BioLineRX to study drug combo to fight pancreatic cancer

Published 2016-01-12, 08:18 a/m
Updated 2016-01-12, 08:20 a/m
© Reuters. Merck, BioLineRX to study drug combo to fight pancreatic cancer

JERUSALEM, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Israeli biopharmaceutical
company BioLineRX Ltd BLRX.O said on Tuesday it would
collaborate with U.S. industry heavyweight Merck (N:MRK) MRK.N to test
a combination of drugs for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
The companies will partner in a mid-stage study to evaluate
the safety and efficacy of the combination of BioLineRx's
BL-8040 and Merck's Keytruda in patients with metastatic
pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
"Because certain tumors exhibit only a modest response to
existing immunotherapies, we are increasingly seeing clinical
studies involving combinations of immuno-oncology agents with
other classes of drugs," said Kinneret Savitsky, BioLineRx's
BLRX.TA chief executive.
BL-8040 acts against CXCR4 receptors that are involved in
tumor progression, the company said. It has been shown in
several clinical trials to mobilise immune cells and to be
effective at inducing direct tumor cell death.
Keytruda, an antibody, works by increasing the ability of
the body's immune system to help detect and fight tumor cells,
said Merck, which is known as MSD outside the United States and
Canada.
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma accounts for most cases of
pancreatic cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.
Specific symptoms often do not develop until the disease has
reached an advanced stage, which is reflected in a low five-year
survival rate.
The study is due to start by mid-2016 and both companies
will have the option to expand the collaboration to include a
pivotal registration study, BioLineRX said.

Latest comments

Install Our App
Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.