Merck KGaA Initiates Phase-III Study Of Stimuvax

Merck KGaA has initiated its global phase-III clinical study of the therapeutic cancer vaccine Stimuvax (BLP25 liposome vaccine, L-BLP25) in patients with advanced, inoperable breast cancer.

Stimuvax is an investigational therapeutic cancer vaccine designed to stimulate the body’s immune system to identify and target cancer cells that express MUC1, an antigen commonly expressed in breast cancer as well as in other common cancer types .

The Stride study will determine if Stimuvax can extend progression-free survival in patients treated with hormonal therapy who have hormone receptor-positive, locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic breast cancer.

In addition to that, overall survival, quality of life, tumor response and safety will also be assessed in this study.

STRIDE will enroll more than 900 patients with advanced breast cancer at an estimated 180 sites in over 30 countries

Lawrence Shulman, CMO and Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, said: “Advanced-stage breast cancer remains a devastating and challenging disease and we urgently need new treatment options.”

“If the results from the Phase III STRIDE study prove positive, this could make a difference for patients with hormone receptor positive metastatic breast cancer,” he added.