Bavencio (avelumab) misses ovarian cancer trial endpoints

Bavencio (avelumab) is an immunotherapy used to treat patients with certain forms of cancer. To test its potential as a treatment for ovarian cancer, the medicine is part of a larger ongoing clinical development programme, JAVELIN Ovarian 200.

The study included many patients who had no response to platinum-based chemotherapy which made them challenging to treat. Bavencio (avelumab) was tested as a monotherapy and in combination with a different chemotherapy. 

This study aimed to show the efficacy of the medicine in terms of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Luciano Rossetti, executive vice president, Global Head of Research & Development at the Biopharma business of Merck KGaA stated, "Although OS and PFS did not reach statistical significance, study results indicate potential clinical activity of the combination of avelumab and chemotherapy which will be analysed further."

Bavencio (avelumab) is already approved to treat metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma in the United States and European Union, and locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) in the US. Studies are underway to see if this medicine will yield positive results in combination with other therapies. Additional information can be found at Pharma Times.