Merck & Co.
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If approved, the potential restrictions would impact Merck’s Keytruda and Bristol Myers Squibb’s Opdivo, which are marketed for the first-line treatment of several types of stomach cancer regardless of PD-L1 expression.
The mesothelioma approval for the Keytruda combination regimen potentially unlocks a $12 billion market opportunity, according to a recent report from research firm IMARC Group.
Despite meeting the primary endpoint in a Phase III study, two patients treated with Merck and Daiichi Sankyo’s experimental antibody-drug conjugate died in a Phase III non-small cell lung cancer study, though the deaths have not been linked to patritumab deruxtecan.
The FDA has six target action dates ahead to round out September as drugs for gastroparesis, Niemann-Pick disease type C and more await decisions.
In advanced non-small cell lung cancer, Summit Therapeutics’ ivonescimab appears to be 49% more effective at reducing the risk of disease progression or death versus Merck’s Keytruda in a late-stage study. However, analysts contend the caveat is that the trial was conducted in an entirely Chinese patient population.
The pharma continued its clinical losing streak on Thursday with the announcement that it is discontinuing late-stage studies of the anti-PD-1 therapy in non-small cell lung cancer and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.
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