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Merck Gets Closer To Extending Keytruda Franchise With Subcutaneous Version

 
• By Alaric DeArment

Merck expects Keytruda to come under Medicare price controls in 2028, but an analyst said the subcutaneous version could shield revenues for the franchise.

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Merck & Co. is awaiting regulatory approvals for its subcutaneous version of PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab, and its successful head-to-head trial against the original intravenous Keytruda (pembrolizumab) quantifies the convenience advantages. But while that may help to mitigate anticipated price controls under the Inflation Reduction Act, biosimilars of Keytruda will likely still present strong competition.

Key Takeaways
  • Merck presented positive noninferiority data for its subcutaneous version of pembrolizumab versus intravenous Keytruda at the European Lung Cancer Conference, with the FDA expected to...

The drug maker presented data on 27 March at the European Lung Cancer Conference in Paris from the pivotal Phase III 3475A-D77 trial of subcutaneous pembrolizumab (MK-3475A), which combines the...

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More from Immuno-oncology

ASCO: Carvykti Data Raise Possibility Of Myeloma Cure

 
• By Alaric DeArment

J&J presented data at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting showing more than five-year disease- and therapy-free survival, but a myeloma working group will need to define what makes a cure.

Merus Raises $300m After ASCO Success

 
• By Andrew McConaghie

The company is raising the money to fuel development of its head and neck cancer candidate, petosemtamab, on the back of promising early data. Some analysts are stopping short of declaring it the winner against a rival product from Bicara, however.

ASCO: Regeneron Looks To Become Bigger Immuno-Oncology Player

 
• By Alaric DeArment

The drugmaker presented oral abstracts at the meeting for Libtayo in adjuvant cutaneous squamous-cell carcinoma and linvoseltamab in multiple myeloma.

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

 
• By Joseph Haas

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.

More from Scrip

Merus Raises $300m After ASCO Success

 
• By Andrew McConaghie

The company is raising the money to fuel development of its head and neck cancer candidate, petosemtamab, on the back of promising early data. Some analysts are stopping short of declaring it the winner against a rival product from Bicara, however.

Bayer Boosted By Third FDA Approval For Nubeqa

 
• By Kevin Grogan

US green light will further expand sales of the prostate cancer blockbuster.

Degron Eyes Deals For Novel Molecular Glue Degrader Assets

 
• By Dexter Jie Yan

Pursuing first-in-class molecular glue degraders using undruggable targets could eventually help Degron Therapeutics land sizable asset-based deals, CEO Lily Zou tells Scrip.