Ayala Pharmaceuticals Inc (ADXS)

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MRK prostate cancer news (when do we get our PSA news?):

https://seekingalpha.com/news/3433298-keytruda-combo-therapies-show-positive-effects-prostate-cancer-study

Keytruda combo therapies show positive effects in prostate cancer study
Feb. 14, 2019 7:27 AM ET|About: Astellas Pharma, Inc. ADR (ALPMY)|By: Douglas W. House, SA News Editor
Preliminary data from an open-label Phase 1b/2 clinical trial, KEYNOTE-365, evaluating Merck's (NYSE:MRK) Keytruda (pembrolizumab), combined with various agents, in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) showed a treatment effect across three cohorts. The results are being presented at the ASCO GU Cancers Symposium in San Francisco.

Cohort A: Keytruda + AstraZeneca's (NYSE:AZN) Lynparza (olaparib): Prostate specific antigen (PSA) response rate was 12% (n=5/41). Median time to PSA progression was 15.3 weeks in patients with measurable disease. The disease control rate (DCR) (responders + stable cancer) was 29% (n=12/41). 49% (n=21/41) of patients experienced a serious or life-threatening treatment-related adverse events, the most common being anemia (27%).

Cohort B: Keytruda + docetaxel and prednisone: PSA response rate was 31% (n=22/72). Median time to PSA progression: 24.1 weeks. DCR: 57% (n=41/72). 36% (n=26/72) experienced a serious, life-threatening or fatal treatment-related adverse event. Two patients died from pneumonitis (lung tissue inflammation).

Cohort C: Keytruda + Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) and Astellas Pharma's (OTCPK:ALPMY) Xtandi (enzalutamide): PSA response rate: 26% (n=18/69). Median time to PSA progression: 18.4 weeks. DCR: 33% (n=23/69). 41% (n=28/69) of patients experienced a serious or life-threatening treatment-related adverse event, the most common being a rash (10%).

Merck is initiating three new pivotal prostate cancer trials: KEYLYNK-010 (Keytruda + Lynparza), KEYNOTE-921 (Keytruda + docetaxel and prednisone) and KEYNOTE-621 (Keytruda + Xtandi).