Merrimack accentuates SHERLOC Study of MM-121 in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Merriimack Pharmaceuticals which is a clinical-stage oncology company focused on biomarker-defined cancers asserted that it is augmenting enrollment in the ongoing randomized Phase 2 SHERLOC study of its investigational drug candidate MM-121 in patients with heregulin-positive non-small cell lung cancer who have progressed after a platinum-containing regimen.

The global, randomized, open-label SHERLOC study is evaluating progression-free survival in patients who have received MM-121 in combination with docetaxel, compared with docetaxel alone. In response to rapid enrollment and robust clinical interest, Merrimack will expand the accrual target from 80 to 100 patients. Patients must have received a prior platinum-based therapy, as well as prior immunotherapy where available and clinically indicated.

Sergio Santillana, M.D., MSc, Chief Medical Officer of Merrimack said “This expansion enables us to maximize this opportunity to gain meaningful insight, by strengthening the statistical design of the study, and emerge with a clear path forward.”

MM-121 was awarded orphan drug status by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of heregulin-positive non-small cell lung cancer. This designation includes eligibility for a seven-year period of marketing exclusivity for MM-121 upon approval, as well as other development assistance and financial incentives.