Hot on the heels of its Bristol-Myers slapdown, Merck scores PhIII bladder cancer success with Keytruda
Merck is taking another step forward in its campaign to expand the blockbuster market for its checkpoint inhibitor Keytruda. The pharma giant, only recently handed the edge in lung cancer after a devastating setback at Bristol-Myers Squibb, says its Phase III for bladder cancer hit the primary endpoint during a preliminary evaluation.
Merck will now wrap the study early and hustle to the FDA, looking to challenge Roche, which landed a landmark approval for its checkpoint rival Tecentriq for bladder cancer back in May. Keytruda was tested in treatment-resistant patients following platinum-based chemo. The control arm included investigators’ choice of chemo.
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