Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany and Pfizer announced the opening of trial sites for an international Phase III study of avelumab*, an investigational fully human anti-PD-L1 IgG1 monoclonal antibody, in patients with platinum-resistant/refractory ovarian cancer. The JAVELIN Ovarian 200 trial is the first Phase III study of a PD-L1 inhibitor investigated as a treatment for platinum-resistant/refractory ovarian cancer. The alliance also announced that the US Food and Drug Administration has provided approval to move forward with a Phase III study of avelumab as a maintenance treatment, in the first-line setting, in patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer. The first trial sites are expected to open shortly.