IN BRIEF: Merck's Welireg approved in China; Lal Karsanbha joins board

22nd November 2024 20:48

Merck & Co Inc - Rahway, New Jersey-based pharmaceutical company - Chinese National Medical Products Administration approves Welireg, generic name belzutifan, for the treatment of patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease that require treatment for related renal cell carcinoma, central nervous system hemangioblastomas or pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours. von Hippel-Lindau disease is genetic disorder that causes tumours and cysts throughout the body. Welireg is the first and only approved HIF-2α inhibitor in China. US approval was granted in 2021. Approval was based on positive data from the Phase 2 LITESPARK-004 trial which showed an overall response rate of 49% in patients with disease-related renal cell carcinoma; a 63% ORR in patients with disease-related hemangioblastomas; and a 83% ORR in patients with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours.

Senior Vice President Marjorie Green comments: "This approval of Welireg brings the first and only systemic therapy to adult patients in China with certain VHL disease-associated tumours who, to date, have not had access to a non-surgical treatment option to help manage manifestations of VHL disease. We are committed to bringing innovative treatment options to patients in need around the world and are proud to offer eligible adult patients in China a first-in-class HIF-2α inhibitor as a possible treatment option."

Further, Merck appoints Emerson Electric Chief Executive Officer Surendralal "Lal" Karsanbha to the board, effective January 1. Prior roles include deputy chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and board member of the US-China Business Council. "Lal brings extensive business and operational expertise with a strong global perspective, and we look forward to his contributions and insights," says Merck CEO Robert Davis.

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By Aidan Lane, Alliance News reporter

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