Merck Serono, a division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, continues to drive the global effort to ensure patients receive personalized cancer therapies. A total of 17 abstracts concerning Merck Serono oncology treatments will be presented at the joint 15th Congress of the European Cancer Organisation (ECCO) and 34th Congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), to be held in Berlin from 20-24 September 2009.
At the meeting, Merck Serono, its partners and independent researchers will be presenting new data on Erbitux® (cetuximab) from the major COINa, CRYSTALb and OPUSc studies in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), as well as the results of a meta-analysis of four trials of Erbitux in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In addition, Erbitux data involving potential new disease areas and novel combination therapy regimens will be presented.
Elmar Schnee, member of the Merck Executive Board and President of the Merck Serono division, explains: “Erbitux has broken the barrier between targeted therapies and personalized cancer care in colorectal cancer. The modern understanding of cancer biology has shifted oncology treatment from one-size fits all to an adapted and therefore more responsible approach to cancer care.”
Colorectal cancer (CRC)
- The independent COIN study is the largest>st-line treatment of mCRC and results due to be presented at the ECCO/ESMO congress will add to our understanding of the benefit of personalized therapies in the treatment of this aggressive disease.
- A meta-analysis of the CRYSTAL and OPUS studies, combining Erbitux with chemotherapy as 1st-line treatment for patients with mCRC, with results according to KRAS status, is expected to reinforce the key role of clinical biomarkers in this indication.
- Final results from a Spanish Phase II study of Erbitux in combination with capecitabine in the 1st-line treatment of elderly patients with advanced CRC will be also be presented.
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
- A meta-analysis of four key studies of Erbitux in NSCLC – looking at the key endpoints of overall survival and progression-free survival – will be presented for the first time at a European congress.
Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN)
- Merck Serono will be presenting preliminary data from the Phase I/II ADVANTAGE trial for cilengitide, an integrin inhibitor, in a study assessing the potential utility of this investigational targeted anti-cancer agent in SCCHN.
Gastric and rectal cancers