Exelixis In Collaboration and Supply Agreement with Merck KGaA and Pfizer

By Michael Dabaie

Exelixis Inc. said it is in a clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement with Merck KGaA and Pfizer Inc. for the ongoing phase 1b study of Stellar-001, previously called XL092-001.

The company said this would add three new cohorts that will evaluate the safety and tolerability of XL092 in combination with avelumab in patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma.

Avelumab is being co-developed and co-commercialized by Merck KGaA and Pfizer. Exelixis is sponsoring the clinical trial and Merck KGaA and Pfizer will provide avelumab for use in the trial.

"Although several therapies are now available to treat bladder cancers, the prognosis for patients with advanced disease remains poor and more options are needed. Evaluating how XL092 may positively impact care when paired with immunotherapy is central to our goal of improving therapeutic outcomes for patients with this and other difficult-to-treat cancers," said Gisela Schwab, president of product development and medical affairs and chief medical officer of Exelixis.

Write to Michael Dabaie at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 18, 2021 09:38 ET (13:38 GMT)

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