Eli Lilly and Company, Merck enter collaboration agreement

To research immuno-oncology combination regimens in multiple types of cancer

Merck and Eli Lilly and Company announced an oncology clinical trial collaboration to evaluate the safety, tolerability and efficacy of Keytruda (pembrolizumab), Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, in combination with Lilly compounds in multiple clinical trials.

Merck will conduct a phase II study examining the combination of pembrolizumab with pemetrexed in first-line non-squamous, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study is currently enrolling. Lilly will conduct a multiple-arm Phase I/II study examining the combination of ramucirumab with pembrolizumab in multiple tumours. This study is anticipated to begin in 2015. Lilly will conduct a phase I/II study examining the combination of necitumumab with pembrolizumab in NSCLC. This study is anticipated to begin in 2015.

The agreement is between Lilly and Merck, through a subsidiary.