Merck KGaA discontinued the Phase III INTR@PID Lung 037 trial for bintrafusp alfa (anti-PD-L1/TGF-beta trap), co-developed with GSK, due to an Independent Data Monitoring Committee recommendation that it would not meet the primary endpoint of progression-free survival in stage IV NSCLC patients with high PD-L1 expression.1
Merck KGaA also abandoned the Phase III TrilynX trial (NCT04459715) for xevinapant, an IAP antagonist licensed from Debiopharm for $1.08bn, as it was unlikely to achieve the primary endpoint of event-free survival in unresected locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.2
No direct mention of SpringWorks in the trial discontinuations; bintrafusp alfa stems from a 2019 GSK collaboration (up to $4.5bn potential), while xevinapant is from Debiopharm.12
Following the announcements, Merck KGaA ADRs fell 1.7% and shares dropped over 10% on Frankfurt exchange; GSK ADRs fell 1.6%.12
Merck continues evaluating bintrafusp alfa in other trials (e.g., biliary tract cancer, cervical cancer, NSCLC) and plans data review for xevinapant.12
Sources:
1. https://www.biospace.com/merck-kgaa-discontinues-trial-of-cancer-drug-co-developed-with-gsk
2. https://www.clinicaltrialsarena.com/news/merck-kgaa-abandons-phase-iii-trial-for-1-08bn-head-neck-cancer-drug/