Merck, in partnership with China-based Kelun-Biotech, is advancing a combination trial of its investigational TROP2-directed antibody-drug conjugate sacituzumab tirumotecan (sac-TMT) with Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) as a first-line treatment.
Recent Phase 3 data from the OptiTROP-Lung05 trial in China show that sac-TMT plus Keytruda reduced the risk of disease progression or death by about 65% versus Keytruda alone in previously untreated PD-L1–positive NSCLC, with a median progression-free survival not reached in the combination arm versus 5.7 months for Keytruda alone.
The combination also achieved an overall response rate of about 70.2% compared with 42% for Keytruda monotherapy, though the overall survival data remain immature but show a favorable trend.
Merck is simultaneously facing a looming patent cliff for Keytruda and is restructuring its oncology business, including creating a separate cancer unit, to bolster its pipeline and maintain Keytruda’s commercial relevance with new combinations and ADCs like sac-TMT.
Sources:
Kelun, Merck's lung cancer combo improves survival in late-stage China trial
Merck Highlights New Long-Term Data and Advancements ...
Merck, Kelun's sac-TMT combo beats Keytruda by 65% on ...
Sacituzumab Tirumotecan + Keytruda Cuts NSCLC Risk 65%
At ASCO, Merck makes case for a 'cornerstone' cancer drug
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) as Monotherapy ...
Merck's Sacituzumab Tirumotecan Shines in NSCLC Trial
FDA Grants Breakthrough Therapy Designation to ...
Kailash Kumar Vinu's Post - LinkedIn
Kelun’s Merck-partnered ADC notches late-stage NSCLC win alongside Keytruda
FDA Approves KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) and ...
Sac-TMT Combo Shows Benefit in Advanced Lung Cancer ...
Merck to Create a Separate Cancer Unit as Patent Cliff Looms
Merck-Kelun lung cancer drug cut risk of tumor progression ...