Merck Reports Good News/Bad News In Latest Keytruda Readouts

With successful Phase III data, Merck will look to add biliary tract cancer to Keytruda’s label, but it will discontinue a Phase III study in prostate cancer after an interim analysis showed no survival benefit.

Good & Bad
Merck's Keytruda showed benefit in biliary cancer, but not prostate • Source: Shutterstock

Results from Merck & Co., Inc.’s numerous combination trials featuring anti-PD-1 blockbuster Keytruda (pembrolizumab) keep pouring in, with the pharma announcing success in biliary tract cancer (BTC), while revealing plans to end a futile study in metastatic prostate cancer on 25 January. The New Jersey-headquartered firm said it will share the BTC dataset with regulators in hopes of adding yet another indication to Keytruda’s label.

In the Phase III KEYNOTE-966 study, Keytruda on top of standard-of-care chemotherapy (gemcitabine and cisplatin) demonstrated statistical significance on the...

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