Merck to stop Phase 3 trial of Lynparza drug in colorectal cancer for futility
Marko Georgiev


U.S.-pharma giant Merck (NYSE:MRK) will end a Phase 3 trial evaluating its Lynparza cancer drug for the treatment of colorectal cancer.
The company "will stop for futility the Phase 3 LYNK-003 trial investigating LYNPARZA with or without bevacizumab for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic colorectal cancer who have not progressed following first-line induction," MRK said in a statement on Monday.

The company will stop the trial following the recommendation of an independent data monitoring committee following the committee's interim analysis.
The analysis looked at the progression-free survival of patients in the trial and found that the efficacy of Lynparza either as a monotherapy or in combination with cancer drug bevacizumab met the criteria for futility.
Both experimental arms - Lynparza as monotherapy or in combination with bevacizumab - will be discontinued.
MRK's Lynparza is being co-developed and co-commercialized with AstraZeneca (AZN) and is currently being studied as a treatment for various types of cancer.
MRK stock earlier closed -2.8% at $92.34. Shares were largely unchanged after hours.