Latest News From Pharmachem
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Boston Scientific reports better-than-expected quarterly earnings
05 February, 2014
Medical device maker, which employs more than 4,500 people in Ireland, earned $108m
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Pfizer and Merck to collaborate on innovative anti-cancer combination studies
07 February, 2014
Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) has agreed with Merck & Co., Inc., known as MSD outside the United States and Canada ("Merck"), through two Merck subsidiaries, to explore the therapeutic potential of Merck's investigational anti-PD-1 therapy, MK-3475, in combination with two Pfizer oncology assets. A Phase I/II clinical study will evaluate the safety and anti-cancer efficacy of MK-3475 combined with Pfizer's axitinib (INLYTA®) in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). A separate Phase I study will evaluate the safety and tolerability of the combination of MK-3475 and PF-05082566 (PF-2566), Pfizer's investigational, fully humanized monoclonal antibody (mAb) that stimulates signaling through 4-1BB (CD-137), a protein involved in regulation of immune cell proliferation and survival. "There has been notable progress in the cancer immunotherapy field over the last year, with new clinical data showing promising efficacy and tolerability for emerging therapies - particularly those that target the PD-1 pathway," said Dr. Mace Rothenberg, senior vice president of Clinical Development and Medical Affairs and chief medical officer for Pfizer Oncology. "These investigational therapies, which harness the body's immune system to treat disease, may hold the greatest potential for patients with cancer when used in combination with other immuno-oncology agents, like PF-2566, to amplify anti-tumor immune responses, or with targeted agents, like axitinib, to optimize their effectiveness. We are pleased to collaborate with Merck to study a diverse group of our anti-cancer agents in combination with MK-3475, with the goal of identifying more efficacious treatment options for patients."
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Novartis expands cancer immunotherapy research program with acquisition of CoStim
17 February, 2014
Novartis announced today that it is broadening its cancer immunotherapy research program with the acquisition of CoStim Pharmaceuticals Inc., a Cambridge, MA-based, privately held biotechnology company focused on harnessing the immune system to eliminate immune-blocking signals from cancer.