CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 22, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:MACK) today announced it will present clinical data on four novel antibody cancer therapeutics at the 2014 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, May 30-June 3, 2014 at McCormick Place in Chicago. These presentations showcase Merrimack's broad oncology pipeline.
"ASCO is an exciting opportunity for us to share the first Phase 2 clinical data from our systems biology-driven MM-121 program. We believe these data identify a biomarker-positive set of patients across multiple cancers who do not perform well on standard of care therapies but who may significantly benefit from co-administration of MM-121," said Gavin MacBeath, Ph.D., Co-Founder and Senior Vice President at Merrimack. "These data also increase our confidence in our ongoing Phase 2 study of MM-111 in gastric cancer, where we are now prospectively evaluating a biomarker-positive population based on these new insights into ErbB3 biology. We also look forward to sharing Phase 1 data from our MM-141 and MM-151 programs as we seek to advance these therapies to Phase 2 development, along with our targeted nanoliposome MM-302."
Merrimack's system biology platform integrates the fields of biology, computing and engineering to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the key drivers of tumor growth and survival and the best ways to counteract them therapeutically. These insights allow Merrimack to deploy proprietary antibody and nanoliposomal technologies to enable the precise targeting of cancers, based on signaling pathways and the tumor microenvironment.
"We believe that our rigorous understanding of cancer biology will enable us to transform cancer care over time. Our systems biology approach, nanoliposomal and antibody technologies, and diagnostic capabilities have broad applications and offer opportunities for significant treatment advances for patients," said Robert Mulroy, President and Chief Executive Officer at Merrimack. "The presentations at ASCO, along with our recently reported positive data for MM-398 combination therapy in metastatic pancreatic cancer, highlight the progress we are making across our entire clinical pipeline."
Merrimack will present data on the following programs at ASCO 2014 (details and locations of each presentation are listed below):
MM-121: An antibody designed to target ErbB3, a critical node in the progression of multiple cancer indications
MM-151: A novel oligoclonal antibody combination designed to inhibit EGFR-driven tumor growth
MM-111: The first clinical stage bispecific antibody targeting HER2 and ErbB3
MM-141: A tetravalent antibody inhibitor of cancer cell survival pathways
MM-121
Poster Highlights Session:
General Poster Session:
MM-151
Poster Highlights Session:
MM-111
General Poster Session:
MM-141
General Poster Session:
About Merrimack
Merrimack is a biopharmaceutical company discovering, developing and preparing to commercialize innovative medicines paired with companion diagnostics for the treatment of cancer. Merrimack seeks to gain a deeper understanding of underlying cancer biology through its systems biology-based approach and develop new insights, therapeutics and diagnostics to improve outcomes for cancer patients. Merrimack currently has six oncology therapeutics in clinical development and three additional candidates in late stage preclinical development. For more information, please visit Merrimack's website at www.merrimackpharma.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
To the extent that statements contained in this press release are not descriptions of historical facts, they are forward-looking statements reflecting the current beliefs and expectations of management made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements include any statements about Merrimack's strategy, future operations, future financial position and future expectations and plans and prospects for Merrimack, and any other statements containing the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "predict," "project," "target," "potential," "will," "would," "could," "should," "continue," and similar expressions. In this press release, Merrimack's forward-looking statements include statements about the potential effectiveness and tolerability of its investigational therapeutics in certain patient populations or subpopulations, its ability to develop a predictive diagnostic and its ability to translate clinical data into future clinical success. Such forward-looking statements involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause Merrimack's clinical development programs, future results, performance or achievements to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the uncertainties inherent in the initiation of future clinical trials, availability of data from ongoing clinical trials, expectations for regulatory approvals and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of Merrimack's drug candidates or companion diagnostics. Merrimack undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Merrimack's views as of any date subsequent to the date hereof. For a further description of the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those expressed in these forward-looking statements, as well as risks relating to Merrimack's business in general, see the "Risk Factors" section of Merrimack's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on May 6, 2014 and other reports Merrimack files with the SEC.