Merck’s Oncology Strategy: Digging In With Expansion Of Keytruda

 
• By Jessica Merrill

With Keytruda, Merck has shown it has the wherewithal to compete in immuno-oncology against more experienced rivals. Now, as management outlined at ASCO, the company is digging its heels into the field, studying Keytruda in 30 tumor types and evaluating other early stage assets.

Merck & Co. Inc. is a one-trick pony when it comes to cancer drug development – so far. But the big pharma’s success with Keytruda (pembrolizumab) has made the company a surprising frontrunner in the exploding field of immuno-oncology. Now Merck’s success with Keytruda, the first PD-1 inhibitor to reach the market, has given the company pause to reconsider its ability to compete in oncology.

“For many, many years, it was our view within Merck Research Laboratories that we didn’t have much to contribute to...

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