Research & Development

Daiichi Sankyo and Merck (known as MSD outside of the US and Canada) have announced the expansion of their co-development and co-commercialisation agreement – already investigating three DXd antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) ‒ to include MK-6070.

MK-6070 is a T-cell engager targeting delta-like ligand 3 (DLL3), an inhibitory canonical Notch ligand that is expressed at high levels in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and neuroendocrine tumours such as melanoma and small cell bladder cancer. Currently being evaluated in a phase 1/2 trial, Merck and Daiichi Sankyo plan to further evaluate MK-6070 in combination with ifinatamab deruxtecan in some patients with SCLC.

“SCLC is an aggressive, fast-growing form of lung cancer and new treatment approaches are urgently needed,” added Dean Y Li MD PhD, president of MSD Research Laboratories. “We are pleased to build upon our collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo and look forward to evaluating the combination of MK-6070 and ifinatamab deruxtecan as a novel two-pronged approach targeting the underlying biology of SCLC, along with other forms of cancer.”

Ken Takeshita MD, global head of R&D at Daiichi Sankyo, commented: “Expanding our oncology pipeline with a DLL3 T-cell engager further supports Daiichi Sankyo’s strategy to create new standards of care for patients with cancer worldwide.”