Debiopharm International, Merck KGaA (ETR:MRK), Darmstadt, Germany, and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) will not work as one entity having agreed to collaborate. The trio will put its efforts together in the evaluation of Debio 1143 alongside avelumab, which is commonly used in patients with sophisticated or metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. The collaboration comes at a time when lung cancer is being listed as the primary cause of cancer death. It is apparently more severe that colon, breast, and prostate cancer put together.

The Vice President, Clinical Research & Development, Debiopharm International SA, Dr. Chris Freitag, says that the strategic alliance comes at the right time within the immuno-oncology. It will help in exploring the immunomodulatory properties of Debio 1143, which have been experiential in the preclinical studies. While Debio 1143 is still in Phase II development for Head & Neck and Ovarian Cancer, Avelumab is undergoing clinical investigation for a broad range of tumors. The investigation is being carried out by the three.

 Inhibition of the PD-1/PD-L1 has promising responses

NSCLC is responsible for 80-85% of all lung cancers. Thus it is the most common type. It has a 4% spread rate and a 5-year survival rate especially in people whose diagnosis is at a late-stage. However, Freitag is optimistic that the immuno- sensitizing effect of Debio 1143 and Avelumab combination will translate into possibilities of better treatment outcomes.

The beauty in all this is that Inhibition of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway has potential results for those suffering from highly developed NSCLC. The exploration of avelumab is expected to one day make a difference in fighting what seems like a major devastating disease. All this explains further the importance of alliance because they will need each other in their relevant capabilities to achieve this mission.

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While Avelumab is well known for a dual mechanism of action that enables the immune system to fight back any cancerous cells, Debio 1143 promotes apoptosis of cancer cells. This is regarded as a characteristic of a conventional mechanism, which facilitates current treatments. It is also very handy with immunomodulatory properties.

On the other hand, Avelumab is a helper of white blood cells the likes of natural killer (NK) cells. It is also known to avert the use PD-L1 on tumor cells.