Merck KGaA today announced that the first patient has been enrolled in its global Phase III clinical study, START (Stimulating Targeted Antigenic Responses To NSCLC), assessing the efficacy and safety of Stimuvax (BLP25 liposome vaccine) as a potential treatment for patients with unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Enrollment in the study, which will involve more than 1,300 patients in approximately 30 countries, is now open to patients in the U.S. where the first randomization has occurred. Enrollment will subsequently expand to additional countries. Currently, there are no approved maintenance therapies for patients responding to first-line treatment for unresectable stage III NSCLC.
"Patients with advanced lung cancer are in need of new therapies that effectively target cancer cells while providing better safety and tolerability," said Dr. Frances Shepherd, Director of Medical Oncology at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, Ontario and lead investigator of the START study. "Novel therapeutic vaccines such as Stimuvax may help the body's immune system identify and destroy cancer cells without targeting normal, healthy cells."
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in both men and women worldwide with approximately 80 percent of cases classified as NSCLC. Further, only about 15 percent of people diagnosed with NSCLC survive this disease after five years. For most patients with NSCLC, current treatments provide limited success.
"The START study is the first Phase III program to evaluate a cancer vaccine in unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer and marks an important milestone for the company in its growing oncology business," said Dr. Wolfgang Wein, Senior Executive Vice President, Oncology, Merck Serono. "Our continued investment in research reflects our confidence in Stimuvax and commitment to developing innovative targeted therapies to advance treatment options for patients with cancer."