Merck's Keytruda Combo Therapy Less Effective Than Chemo In Lung Cancer Patients, Data Shows

 

• MK-7684A, a combination of Keytruda (pembrolizumab) and in-house anti-TIGIT compound vibostolimab, did not improve patients' progression-free survival compared to chemotherapy in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with progressive disease after treatment with immunotherapy and platinum-doublet chemotherapy. 
• Results also showed that the coformulation was numerically less effective than docetaxel (chemo). 
• Merck is notifying study investigators that patients in this arm of the study should be switched to a standard of care unless their physician considers the patient is benefitting from MK-7684A alone.
• The blinded arms of the study will continue to evaluate MK-7684A with docetaxel versus docetaxel alone further. 
• Last year, Merck discontinued the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-641 trial evaluating Keytruda (pembrolizumab) combined with enzalutamide and androgen deprivation therapy for metastatic castration-resistant metastatic prostate cancer, and the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-789 trial of Keytruda plus pemetrexed plus platinum-based chemotherapy in metastatic nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer.

https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/23/03/31398019/mercks-keytruda-combo-therapy-less-effective-than-chemo-in-lung-cancer-patients-data-shows