Seagen (NASDAQ: SGEN), currently in the process of being acquired by Pfizer (NYSE: PFE), has announced an update on an ongoing Phase III oncology study involving a combination therapy that includes the HER2 inhibitor Tukysa (tucatinib), one of Seagen’s four marketed drugs that attracted Pfizer’s interest. The trial successfully met its primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS) for Tukysa in combination with Roche’s (SWX: ROG) antibody drug conjugate (ADC) Kadcyla (trastuzumab emtansine) for the treatment of unresectable locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer in patients who have received prior treatment.
Adverse Events and Treatment Discontinuations
However, Seagen reported that adverse events associated with the therapy led to more treatment discontinuations compared to the placebo group. Despite this, the adverse events did not generate any new safety signals, indicating that the known safety profile of the combination therapy remains consistent.
Merck, Sharp & Dohme’s Rights to Tukysa
According to the press release, Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) holds the rights to Tukysa outside of Canada, Europe, and the US. This distribution arrangement highlights the global reach and strategic partnerships involved in bringing Tukysa to patients worldwide.-Fineline Info & Tech
