Celeste Lebbe, MD, PhD, Hopital Saint Louis in Paris, discusses the efficacy of avelumab (Bavencio) in patients with stage IV Merkel cell carcinoma.

In a phase II study of avelumab, chemotherapy-naïve patients with distant metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma, first-line treatment resulted in early responses and a high overall response rate (ORR) in this difficult-to-treat population.

The ORR was 62%, which occurred quite rapidly, says Lebbe. The median duration of response is not yet reached, though.

Celeste Lebbe, MD, PhD

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Dr. Lebbe Discusses Efficacy of Avelumab in Merkel Cell Carcinoma