Background: MCC is a rare, aggressive skin cancer. Avelumab is a fully human anti–PD-L1 antibody. In a phase 2 study in pts with distant mMCC who progressed after prior chemotherapy (JAVELIN Merkel 200; NCT02155647), avelumab showed a manageable safety profile and durable responses, including an objective response rate (ORR) of 31.8%, estimated 6-month durable response rate of 29%, and 6-month overall survival rate of 69%. Here, we report preliminary results from a separate cohort of pts with chemotherapy-naïve mMCC enrolled in the same study. Methods: Eligible pts with mMCC and no prior systemic treatment for metastatic disease received avelumab 10 mg/kg Q2W until confirmed progression, unacceptable toxicity, or withdrawal. Tumors were assessed every 6 weeks (RECIST v1.1). Adverse events (AEs) were assessed by NCI CTCAE v4.0. Results: As of Dec 30, 2016, 29/112 planned pts had been enrolled. Median age was 75.0 years (range 47–87). Median treatment duration was 8.1 weeks (range 2.0–37.9). Of 16 pts with ≥3 months of follow-up, unconfirmed ORR was 68.8% (95% CI 41.3–89.0) with CR in 18.8%; confirmed ORR was 56.3% (95% CI 29.9–80.2; 1 unconfirmed PR with discontinuation). Of 25 pts with ≥6 weeks of follow-up, unconfirmed ORR was 64.0% (95% CI 42.5–82.0). All responses were ongoing at last follow-up, including in 5/5 pts with ≥6 months of follow-up (potential to confirm responses). 20/29 pts (69.0%) had a treatment-related AE (TRAE), including grade 3–4 TRAE in 5 pts (17.2%). TRAEs led to discontinuation in 5 pts (17.2%): 2 pts with infusion-related reaction, and 1 pt each with elevated AST and ALT, cholangitis, and paraneoplastic syndrome. There were no treatment-related deaths. 21/29 pts (72.4%) remain on treatment. Conclusions: In initial results from a cohort of chemotherapy-naïve pts with mMCC, avelumab was associated with early responses and a manageable safety profile, consistent with findings for second-line or later avelumab treatment in a previous cohort. These results suggest that responses mature to become durable and the use of 1L avelumab may increase the probability of response vs later-line treatment. Enrollment and follow-up in this 1L cohort are ongoing. Clinical trial information: NCT02155647