Merck Says PD-L1 Testing Already On The Rise, Setting Stage For First-Line Launch

Testing for the biomarker has picked up since paradigm changing data in first-line lung cancer was presented at ESMO, management said. Now, with the FDA approval of Keytruda, Merck is focused on establishing a solid lead in a big commercial market.

Following the FDA approval of Keytruda (pembrolizumab) for the treatment of first-line non-small cell lung cancer Oct. 24, Merck & Co. Inc. is poised to establish a lead and potentially dominate long-term in what is expected to be one of the largest commercial markets for immuno-oncology treatments.

Getting patients tested for the PD-L1 biomarker has been a challenge for Keytruda in second-line NSCLC, but physicians are already...

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