Merck Defends Its Offensive Strategy For Keytruda

Merck reports $314m for PD-1 inhibitor Keytruda in second quarter, mostly from melanoma indication, leaving it far behind Bristol's Opdivo. Pressed about its competitive strategy, company execs touted first-to-market advantage in first-line lung cancer and a "wall of data" that will protect in the future.

White cells

While Merck & Co. Inc.'s Keytruda continues to trail Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.’s Opdivo and most of its sales continue to derive from the melanoma indication, the firm believes it can build its position in the checkpoint race with the first-mover advantage in first-line lung cancer and a “huge wall of data” it hopes will insulate the drug from follower competitors and potential price wars later on.

Merck had the first-to-market advantage with its PD-1 inhibitor Keytruda (pembrolizumab), with approval for metastatic melanoma in October 2014. But Bristol's Opdivo (nivolumab) was cleared for the same indication two...

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Scrip for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required

More from Strategy

Bristol Will Pay BioNTech $1.5bn Up Front To Enter PD-L1xVEGF Space

 
• By 

BMS is guaranteeing BioNTech at least $3.5bn to share development costs and potential profits on the Phase III bispecific, to compete with Summit, Merck and Pfizer.

Sanofi Plays It Safer With Blueprint Buy After Bumpy 2025

 
• By 

But the French major is still keen on early-stage M&A.

BREAKING NEWS: Sanofi Bets $9.5bn To Bag Blueprint

 
• By 

Buy boosts the French major's immunology pipeline.

Summit’s Ivonescimab Shows Significance On PFS, But Not Overall Survival

 
• By 

In a study intended to show similar benefit in western patients, PD-1/VEGF-targeting ivonescimab met a progression-free survival endpoint, but missed on OS.

More from Business

Quick Listen: Scrip’s Five Must-Know Things

 
• By 

In this week's episode: a preview of major ASCO readouts; Roivant stays patient in deals; Lilly diversifies pain pipeline with SiteOne acquisition; Nucala gets US COPD nod; and women in Indian pharma.

Summit’s Ivonescimab Shows Significance On PFS, But Not Overall Survival

 
• By 

In a study intended to show similar benefit in western patients, PD-1/VEGF-targeting ivonescimab met a progression-free survival endpoint, but missed on OS.

Sanofi Bid For Second COPD Approval Hurt By Mixed Itepekimab Data

 
• By 

One Phase III trial hits but a second study misses by a mile.