Merck's TGF-β/PD-L1 dual-targeted therapy for cholangiocarcinoma shows therapeutic potential

Merck (Merck KGaA) recently announced the top-line data from the second phase of the INTR@PID BTC 047 study.

A total of 159 patients were enrolled in the study.

Milind Javle, an investigator of the INTR@PID BTC 047 study and professor of gastrointestinal oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center, said: “In view of the high unmet medical needs in BTC treatment, single-agent immunotherapy has a significant effect on all PD-L1 expression levels.

Danny Bar Zohar, MD, Head of Global Development, Merck's Healthcare Business Unit, said: "This study shows that bintrafusp alfa has single-agent activity against locally advanced or metastatic BTC, a disease that has historically been difficult to treat.

Currently, a Phase 2/3 study (INTR@PID BTC 055) is evaluating bintrafusp alfa combined with chemotherapy as the first-line treatment of BTC.

Cholangiocarcinoma-cholangiocarcinoma

Cholangiocarcinoma (BTC) is the general term for a group of rare aggressive gastrointestinal cancers, including intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC) and gallbladder cancer (GBC).

bintrafusp alfa (M7824) is a dual-function immunotherapy, discovered by Merck internally, and is currently undergoing clinical development through a strategic alliance with GlaxoSmithKline.

Original source: Merck Reports Topline Data for Bintrafusp Alfa as Second-Line Monotherapy Treatment in Biliary Tract Cancer