Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, a US subsidiary of German-based Boehringer Ingelheim, has initiated the Phase II trial of afatinib (Gilotrif) and pembrolizumab (Keytruda) combination to treat patients with locally advanced or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC) in the lung.

Afatinib is an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) designed to target cancer cells from within and block the signals required for tumour growth.

Being conducted in collaboration with a subsidiary of Merck, the Phase II trial will evaluate the efficacy and safety of afatinib and pembrolizumab combination in approximately 60 patients.

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals clinical development and medical affairs specialist care vice-president Martina Flammer: "This collaboration will provide invaluable information about the use of afatinib and pembrolizumab in combination to treat squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.

"Furthermore, the trial underscores our commitment to continually investigate novel approaches for cancer treatment."

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.
"This collaboration will provide invaluable information about the use of afatinib and pembrolizumab in combination to treat squamous cell carcinoma of the lung."

The trial will assess progressed or relapsed patients on or after platinum-based chemotherapy who have not undergone therapy with an anti-PD-1, PD-L1/L2 antibody, other checkpoint inhibitor or anti-EGFR targeted therapy.

The dose and tolerability of afatinib in combination with the standard dose of pembrolizumab will be determined along with the measurement of reduction in tumour size and objective response rate.

The anti-tumour activity of the combination will be established by evaluating the disease control, duration of response, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS).

Afatinib has received approval in the US, European Union (EU) and other markets for lung SqCC patients, while pembrolizumab is approved in the US, EU, Japan and other markets to treat previously untreated patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).


Image: Boehringer Ingelheim factory premises in Ingelheim, Germany. Photo: courtesy of Boehringer Ingelheim.