Merck to Present Survival Data and New Research on 10 Medicines at ESMO 2024

Merck (NYSE: MRK), also known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, has announced the presentation of new data from four approved medications and six pipeline candidates for over 20 types of cancer at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2024 held in Barcelona, Spain, from September 13-17. The data includes findings from the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-522 trial in high-risk early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-A18 trial in high-risk locally advanced cervical cancer, and the Phase 3 LEAP-012 trial in unresectable, non-metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma. These studies have been selected for the ESMO Presidential Symposium Sessions. A total of 80 abstracts showcasing Merck's ongoing cancer research will be presented.

Dr. Eliav Barr, senior vice president and head of global clinical development at Merck Research Laboratories, highlighted the decade-long impact of Merck's drug KEYTRUDA on cancer treatment. He emphasized the significance of the new data being presented at ESMO, which includes 10-year survival data for unresectable or metastatic melanoma and new overall survival data for early stages of two types of women's cancers. Dr. Barr also noted the expansion of Merck's oncology leadership through their diverse research pipeline aimed at improving patient outcomes.

Key data to be presented from Merck's cancer portfolio includes:
- First-time overall survival (OS) results from the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-522 trial evaluating KEYTRUDA in combination with chemotherapy as neoadjuvant treatment, followed by adjuvant treatment in patients with high-risk early-stage TNBC.
- OS data from the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-A18 trial evaluating KEYTRUDA in combination with concurrent chemoradiotherapy for patients with high-risk locally advanced cervical cancer.
- Initial results from the interim analysis of the Phase 3 LEAP-012 trial evaluating KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA in combination with transarterial chemoembolization for unresectable, non-metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma.
- Ten-year OS data from the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-006 trial comparing KEYTRUDA to ipilimumab as first-line treatment for advanced melanoma.
- OS data from the final analysis of the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-811 trial evaluating KEYTRUDA with trastuzumab and chemotherapy for advanced HER2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.
- Final analysis of the Phase 3 LITESPARK-005 trial evaluating WELIREG for advanced renal cell carcinoma that has progressed following PD-1/L1 inhibitor and VEGF-TKI therapies.

Additionally, new data on investigational candidates from Merck’s pipeline will include:
- Data from the Phase 2 ICARUS-BREAST01 trial evaluating HER3-DXd for hormone-receptor positive/HER2-negative advanced breast cancer.
- First-time data from a Phase 2 study conducted in China evaluating sac-TMT for previously treated advanced endometrial carcinoma and ovarian cancer.
- Findings from a Phase 2 study in China evaluating sac-TMT plus KEYTRUDA for recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer.

Further presentations at the congress will include data on treatments for various cancer types, such as breast cancer, gastrointestinal cancers, genitourinary cancers, gynecologic cancers, lung cancer, melanoma, and other skin cancers. These presentations will cover a range of treatments involving pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA), belzutifan (WELIREG), lenvatinib (LENVIMA), olaparib (LYNPARZA), and investigational agents like patritumab deruxtecan, ifinatamab deruxtecan, and sacituzumab tirumotecan.

Merck’s early-stage cancer clinical program is focused on discovering and treating cancer at earlier stages to improve long-term survival rates. This program includes over 30 ongoing registrational studies across multiple cancer types, leveraging Merck’s substantial understanding of KEYTRUDA’s role in later-stage cancers. The broad scope of Merck's clinical research aims to provide improved treatment outcomes for as many patients as possible.