ASCO: Merck, Kelun's sac-TMT ADC combo beats Keytruda by 65% on progression in first-line lung cancer

Merck and China-based Sichuan Kelun-Biotech reported that their antibody-drug conjugate combo, sacituzumab tirumotecan (sac-TMT) plus Keytruda (pembrolizumab), cut the risk of disease progression or death by about 65% versus Keytruda alone in first-line PD-L1–positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer in the Phase 3 OptiTROP-Lung05 trial in China. This is the first Phase 3 study of an ADC–immunotherapy combo to meet its primary PFS endpoint in first-line NSCLC. Merck plans to present full data orally at the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting (Abstract #8506), and Kelun has submitted a new indication application for the combo to China’s NMPA under priority review.