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Merck Poised To Be First To Market With A PD-1 For First-Line Lung Cancer

 
• By Jessica Merrill

Merck’s Keytruda improved progression-free survival and overall survival in previously untreated non-small cell lung cancer patients in the highly-anticipated KEYNOTE-024 trial, all but guaranteeing a rapid FDA approval in the indication.

Positive progression-free survival and overall survival data from Merck & Co. Inc.’s high profile KEYNOTE-024 trial testing Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in patients with previously untreated advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) positions Keytruda to beat Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.’s Opdivo (nivolumab) to a first-line lung cancer indication.

The winner long-term in the high stakes market remains very much up in the air, however, as the details of the trial were not released. Bristol’s trial in a similar patient population, CheckMate 026, is still ongoing, with data anticipated in the third quarter, and there is still a big question about the optimal threshold for testing tumors for PD-L1 expression

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