By Merck & Co. announced today that its groundbreaking cancer drug, Keytruda, has reached a major milestone in its late-stage clinical trial for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The trial achieved its primary goal of improving overall survival rates.
The study focused on evaluating Keytruda as a perioperative treatment for patients with resectable stage II, IIIA, or IIIB (T3-4N2) NSCLC. Compared to a placebo plus chemotherapy followed by placebo after surgery, Keytruda demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement when administered with chemotherapy prior to surgery.
Dr. Marjorie Green, Senior Vice President and Head of Late-Stage Oncology at Merck Research Laboratories, expressed the significance of this achievement: “This Phase 3 study is an important breakthrough in the treatment of resectable non-small cell lung cancer. It represents the first study to demonstrate a statistically significant overall survival benefit for patients with stage II, IIIA, or IIIB (T3-4N2) NSCLC.”
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally, with small-cell lung cancer accounting for approximately 81% of all cases. However, there has been significant progress in survival rates over the past five years. The overall five-year survival rate for lung cancer in the United States has improved by 21%, now standing at 25%.
Investors have been closely monitoring Merck’s performance in response to this news. Year to date, Merck’s stock has experienced a 6% decline, in contrast to the 13% gain of the S&P 500.
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