CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Merrimack
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: MACK) today announced the
enrollment of its first patient in a Phase 1 study of MM-310 in
solid tumors. MM-310 is an antibody-directed nanotherapeutic (ADN)
that encapsulates a novel taxane and targets the EphA2 receptor, a
protein which surveys suggest is overexpressed in 50-100% of many
major tumor types, including prostate, ovarian, bladder, gastric,
pancreatic and lung cancers.
"The initiation of this study is an important step in evaluating
MM-310's safety and preliminary activity in patients diagnosed with
solid tumors," said Vasileios Askoxylakis, MD, PhD, Medical
Director and MM-310 Project Leader at Merrimack. "MM-310 was
designed to maximize targeted delivery and local activation of a
newly engineered and proprietary prodrug of docetaxel, a
broadly-used potent chemotherapy that is often associated with
significant drug-related toxicities, with a goal of minimizing
exposure to healthy tissue. In several preclinical models, MM-310
not only demonstrated superior antitumor activity when compared to
free docetaxel, but also fewer hematologic toxicities. We look
forward to continuing MM-310's development via this study."
The Phase 1 open-label study will assess the safety,
pharmacology and preliminary activity of MM-310 in three parts. In
part one, MM-310 will be assessed as a monotherapy until a maximum
tolerated dose (MTD) is established. After the MTD of MM-310 is
established, the study will include two further concurrent parts
consisting of an expansion cohort as a single agent and a
dose-finding phase in combination with other therapies. Merrimack
expects to report data from part one of the study in 2018.
Five sites are currently expected to participate in this study.
The first patient was dosed at Honor Health in Scottsdale, AZ.
About MM-310
MM-310 is an antibody-directed nanotherapeutic (ADN) that
encapsulates a novel prodrug of the highly potent chemotherapy
docetaxel in an ephrin receptor A2 (EphA2)-targeted liposome. EphA2
receptors are shown to be overexpressed in several solid tumors,
including prostate, ovarian, bladder, gastric, pancreatic and lung
cancers. Moreover, EphA2 receptors are associated with poor
outcomes in certain indications. Preclinical data on MM-310 were
presented in an oral presentation and three poster sessions at the
2016 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)
Annual Meeting and further data will be presented at the 2017 AACR
Annual Meeting in April. For more information on the Phase 1
study in solid tumors, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov
(Identifier: NCT03076372).
About Merrimack
Merrimack is a biopharmaceutical company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts that is outthinking
cancer to ensure that patients and their families live fulfilling
lives. Our mission is to transform cancer care through the smart
design and development of targeted solutions based on the deep
understanding of cancer pathways and biological markers. All of our
product candidates, including three in clinical studies and several
others in preclinical development, fit into our three-pronged
strategy of 1) understanding the biological problems we are trying
to solve, 2) designing specific solutions and 3) developing those
solutions in biomarker-enriched homogenous patient populations.
Through systems biology, which brings together the fields of
biology, computing and engineering, Merrimack aims to decrease the
uncertainty in drug development and clinical validation. Such an
approach has the potential to make individualized treatment of
patients a reality. For more information, please visit Merrimack's
website at www.merrimack.com.
Forward-looking Statements
To the extent that statements contained in this press release
are not descriptions of historical facts, they are forward-looking
statements reflecting the current beliefs and expectations of
management made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended.
Forward-looking statements include any statements about Merrimack's
strategy, future operations, future financial position and future
expectations and plans and prospects for Merrimack, and any other
statements containing the words "anticipate," "believe,"
"estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "predict,"
"project," "target," "potential," "will," "would," "could,"
"should," "continue," "hope" and similar expressions. In this press
release, Merrimack's forward-looking statements include statements
about the potential effectiveness and safety profile of MM-310,
Merrimack's ability to translate preclinical data into future
clinical success and the timing of availability of clinical data.
Such forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and
uncertainties that could cause Merrimack's development programs,
future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly
from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.
Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the
uncertainties inherent in the initiation of future clinical trials,
availability of data from ongoing clinical trials, expectations for
regulatory approvals, development progress of Merrimack's companion
diagnostics, availability of funding sufficient for Merrimack's
foreseeable and unforeseeable operating expenses and capital
expenditure requirements, and other matters that could affect the
availability or commercial potential of Merrimack's products,
product candidates or companion diagnostics. Merrimack undertakes
no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as
representing Merrimack's views as of any date subsequent to the
date hereof. For a further description of the risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those
expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks
relating to Merrimack's business in general, see the "Risk Factors"
section of Merrimack's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 1, 2017 and other reports Merrimack files
with the SEC.
Contact:
Geoffrey Grande, CFA
617-441-7602
ggrande@merrimack.com
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SOURCE Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc.