Merck’s KEYTRUDA Significantly Improved Overall Survival and Progression-Free Survival as First-Line Treatment for Squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) in Pivotal Phase 3 KEYNOTE-407 Trial

Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced that the pivotal Phase 3 KEYNOTE-407 trial investigating KEYTRUDA, Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, in combination with carboplatin-paclitaxel or nab-paclitaxel, as first-line treatment for metastatic squamous non-small cell lung cancer (sNSCLC), met the dual primary endpoints of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).

As quoted in the press release:

Based on an interim analysis conducted by the independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC), treatment with KEYTRUDA in combination with chemotherapy resulted in significantly longer OS and PFS than chemotherapy alone. The safety profile of KEYTRUDA in this combination was consistent with that previously observed in lung cancer. As previously announced, Merck has submitted a supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and these new data will be shared with the agency. These data from KEYNOTE-407 will be presented at the 2018 ASCO Annual Meeting.

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