Merck KgaA announced the initiation of its multi-national phase III study of the investigational therapeutic cancer vaccine Stimuvax (BLP25 liposome vaccine) in Asian patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The INSPIREa study will investigate if Stimuvax can extend overall survival in Asian patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC.

INSPIRE is being initiated in five Asian regions. Enrolment in the study, which will involve approximately 420 patients across China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan, is now open in Hong Kong and will subsequently expand to the additional countries.

“There is a large unmet need in the treatment of stage III lung cancer, which is associated with a high mortality rate,” said the Principal Investigator of the study Professor Tony Mok, Department of Clinical Oncology, Chinese University of Hong Kong. “The incidence of lung cancer is rising in Asia, and more so, the genetic profile of the illness is unique. That is why the initiation of the INSPIRE trial is such an important milestone.”

The design of the INSPIRE trial is almost identical to that of the STARTb study; both are multi-national, phase III, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical studies. These trials will evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of Stimuvax in patients with unresectable, stage III NSCLC who have demonstrated either stable disease or objective response following primary chemo-radiotherapy. Progression-free survival, quality of life and safety will also be assessed in INSPIRE and START.

“The initiation of the INSPIRE study demonstrates our global commitment to the development of Stimuvax and to the investigation of difficult-to-treat cancers such as advanced stage lung cancer,” said Dr Oliver Kisker, senior vice-president, Global Clinical Development Unit Oncology, Merck KgaA. Stimuvax is an investigational therapeutic cancer vaccine designed to stimulate the body’s immune system to identify and target cancer cells that express MUC1, an antigen commonly expressed in NSCLC as well as in other common cancer types such as breast cancer, multiple myeloma, colorectal, prostate and ovarian cancers.

Stimuvax was the first investigational cancer vaccine to enter phase III clinical testing in NSCLC with the launch of the START study in February 2007. Stimuvax is also being investigated in the phase III STRIDEc study, which is currently enrolling patients who have hormone receptor-positive, locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic breast cancer.

Merck is investigating the use of Stimuvax (BLP25 liposome vaccine) in the treatment of NSCLC. The vaccine was granted fast-track status in September 2004 by the FDA. Merck obtained the exclusive worldwide licensing rights from Oncothyreon Inc., Seattle, Washington, USA. Stimuvax is being developed in Europe by Merck KGaA and in the United States by its affiliate, EMD Serono Inc.

The INSPIRE study is a multi-national, phase III, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial designed to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of Stimuvax in subjects suffering from unresectable, stage III NSCLC and demonstrating either stable disease or objective response following primary chemo-radiotherapy. The study will enrol approximately 420 unresectable, stage III NSCLC patients across China, Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan. Study participation is expected to last for a minimum of 24 months.

START is a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III study that will evaluate patients with documented unresectable stage IIIA or IIIB NSCLC who have had a response or stable disease after at least two cycles of platinum-based chemo-radiotherapy. The study will involve more than 1,300 patients in approximately 30 countries.

STRIDE is a randomized, double-blind, controlled, multi-center phase III study designed to determine if Stimuvax can extend progression free survival in patients treated with hormonal therapy who have inoperable, locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic breast cancer. Overall survival, quality of life, tumour response and safety will also be assessed in this study.