Merck & Co's Keytruda Disappoints In Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer The Next Big Therapeutic Opportunity?

In top-line final Phase III results from KEYNOTE-604, Keytruda improves PFS but not OS when combined with chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of small-cell lung cancer.

Lungs
• Source: Shutterstock

Merck & Co. Inc.’s release of somewhat disappointing top-line final Phase III data from the KEYNOTE-604 study of Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) has drawn attention to what may be one of the remaining major untapped markets for the anti-PD-1 immunotherapy.

In KEYNOTE-604, Keytruda was found to significantly improve progression-free survival (PFS) but not overall survival (OS) when combined with chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of SCLC.

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