Exelixis, and Merck have entered into a strategic clinical development collaboration to evaluate the combination of Exelixis' investigational tyrosine kinase inhibitor, zanzalintinib, with Merck's immunotherapy drugs KEYTRUDA® and WELIREG®. This partnership will focus on advancing clinical trials for two types of cancers with significant unmet medical needs: head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The collaboration includes Phase 3 pivotal trials for HNSCC and multiple trials for RCC, aiming to explore the potential of these combinations in improving patient outcomes.
Merck, a leader in immuno-oncology research, will provide its widely used KEYTRUDA® for ongoing trials, while Exelixis retains global commercial rights to zanzalintinib. Both companies emphasize the importance of this partnership, with Exelixis noting zanzalintinib's potential in overcoming resistance to current treatments and Merck highlighting the strategic value of new combination therapies. Head and neck cancers and RCC present substantial global health challenges, with thousands of new cases and deaths annually. This collaboration seeks to provide innovative and effective treatment options for patients facing these cancers.
