Benzinga | Apr 27, 2021 08:00AM EDT

Alkermes Launches Mid-Stage Melanoma Study Of Nemvaleukin As Monotherapy

* Alkermes plc (NASDAQ: ALKS) has initiated a Phase 2 trial, ARTISTRY-6, evaluating nemvaleukin alfa (nemvaleukin) monotherapy in patients with melanoma who have been previously treated with anti-PD-(L)1 therapy.

* Nemvaleukin, Alkermes' lead immuno-oncology candidate, is an investigational engineered interleukin-2 (IL-2) variant immunotherapy.

* The study will evaluate intravenously administered nemvaleukin in patients with mucosal melanoma and subcutaneously administered nemvaleukin in patients with advanced cutaneous melanoma.

* ARTISTRY-6 is designed to evaluate the anti-tumor activity, safety, and tolerability of IV nemvaleukin. The primary endpoint of ARTISTRY-6 is centrally assessed overall response rate. The secondary endpoints include safety and tolerability, duration of response, progression-free survival, disease control rate.

* The study would enroll approximately 110 patients.

* Price Action: ALKS shares closed at $22.47 on Monday.