Just doing a bit more reading here. Avelumab failed its Phase 3 trial in gastric cancer: "Treatment of patients with GC/GEJC with single-agent avelumab in the third-line setting did not result in an improvement in OS or PFS compared with chemotherapy."
Source: https://www.annalsofoncology.org/article/S0923-7534(19)34193-6/fulltext. Also: https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/emd_serono_and_pfizer_provide_update_on_phase_iii_javelin_gastric_100_trial
In addition Keytruda also recently "failed to meet its post-marketing requirement of demonstrating an overall survival benefit in a Phase 3 study."
Source: https://www.merck.com/news/merck-provides-update-on-keytruda-pembrolizumab-indication-in-third-line-gastric-cancer-in-the-us/
Also: https://www.targetedonc.com/view/pembrolizumab-withdrawn-from-us-market-as-option-for-third-line-gastric-or-gej-adenocarcinoma
Advanced gastric cancer is hard to treat and has dismal outcomes, which is why the Her-vaxx data so far is highly encouraging. Clearly Merck and Pfizer are hoping that the combo of Her-vaxx with Avelumab will be effective. If so, that opens the gastric cancer Markey for Avelumab - if used in combination with Her-vaxx. It would also be highly indicative of the potential for combination with Keytruda.
Cheers
Dave
(20min delay)