Merck, Pfizer combining drugs
Merck (MRK) will study its new immunotherapy drug candidate, brolizumab, in combination with Pfizer's (PFE) already-approved Xalkori to treat metastatic lung cancer. The trial is expected to start next year. In Feb. the drug giants announced they would test Merck's pembrolizumab with Pfizer's Inlyta for kidney cancer. The deals give Pfizer access to PD-1 inhibitors as it lacks its own candidate in that class. Merck shares rose 0.8% to 60.20. Pfizer rose 1% to 29.21.
