Pfizer, EMD Serono: Bavencio Meets Primary Endpoint in Phase 3 Bladder Cancer Study

By Colin Kellaher

Pfizer Inc. (PFE) and Merck KGaA's (MRK.XE) EMD Serono unit on Monday said a phase III study of the immunotherapy Bavencio in bladder cancer met its primary endpoint of overall survival at the planned interim analysis.

The companies said patients with previously untreated locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma whose disease didn't progress on induction chemotherapy and who were randomized to receive first-line maintenance therapy with Bavencio and best supportive care lived significantly longer than those who received best supportive care only.

The companies said Bavencio is the first immunotherapy to significantly prolong overall survival in locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma, the most common type of bladder cancer, in a phase III trial.

Germany's Merck and New York-based Pfizer formed a strategic alliance in 2014 to jointly develop and commercialize Bavencio.

Write to Colin Kellaher at colin.kellaher@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 06, 2020 07:37 ET (12:37 GMT)

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