Almost three years after whiffing in a confirmatory study, Merck touts new data for Keytruda in HCC

Nicole DeFeudis

Editor

Keytruda’s accelerated approval in a common form of liver cancer looked shaky after the drug failed on two survival measures in a confirmatory study almost three years ago. Now Merck’s touting what could be a confirmatory win — but will three patient deaths mar its chances?

A regimen of Keytruda plus best supportive care reduced patients’ risk of death by 21% compared to placebo plus supportive care (p=0.0180), meeting the primary endpoint in the Phase III KEYNOTE-394 study, Merck announced on Tuesday. The trial enrolled 453 Asian patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), who had previously been treated with sorafenib or oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy.

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Almost three years after whiffing in a confirmatory study, Merck touts new data for Keytruda in HCC

Nicole DeFeudis

Editor

Unlock this article instantly by becoming a free subscriber.

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Al­most three years af­ter whiff­ing in a con­fir­ma­to­ry study, Mer­ck touts new da­ta for Keytru­da in HCC

Nicole DeFeudis

Editor

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Almost three years after whiffing in a confirmatory study, Merck touts new data for Keytruda in HCC

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