Merck shares data from phase 3 trial of Keytruda for gastric cancers
Betsy Goodfellow | May 2, 2024 | News story | Research and Development | Gastric, MSD, Merck, Oncology, keytruda
Merck, known as MSD outside of the US and Canada, has announced data from the phase 3 KEYNOTE-811 trial which assessed Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in combination with trastuzumab and fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy.
The trial met its dual primary endpoint of overall survival (OS) for the first-line treatment of patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive locally advanced unresectable or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma.
The drug demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in OS compared to placebo in combination with trastuzumab and chemotherapy, with the greatest benefit seen in patients whose tumours expressed PD-L1 (CPS ≥1).
The safety profile of the drug in this trial remained consistent with previously reported data, and no new safety signals were observed.
Full results are expected to be presented at an upcoming medical meeting as well as being shared with the relevant worldwide regulatory authorities.
Dr Marjorie Green, senior vice president and head of oncology, global clinical development at Merck Research Laboratories, commented: “Patients diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer often face a poor prognosis, underscoring the need for treatment options that have the potential to extend patients’ lives. These OS results from KEYNOTE-811 are encouraging and build on the positive progression-free survival, overall response rate and duration of response data from this study.”
Betsy Goodfellow
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