ErbB3 is a receptor in the ErbB family, a pathway that plays a critical role in cancer signaling. With the initiation of the Phase I trial, MM-121 becomes the first systems biology product as well as the first selective ErbB3 antagonist to enter human clinical development, the company said.
The Phase I dose escalation study will evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics of MM-121. Enrollment is underway at Fox Chase Cancer Center and two additional oncology sites are expected to participate in the trial later in 2008.
William Slichenmyer, senior vice president and chief medical officer at Merrimack, said: “ErbB3 is now recognized as a potentially important target in many types of cancer including lung, breast, colorectal, ovarian and others. Preclinical studies of MM-121 have demonstrated antitumor activity in a wide range of tumor types and a very favorable safety profile. We are optimistic that these findings may translate into clinical benefit for patients who participate in the clinical trials.”