Merck scraps third prostate cancer study as Keytruda therapy disappoints
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[March 01, 2023]
By Bhanvi Satija
(Reuters) - Merck & Co on Tuesday scrapped a late-stage trial of a
combination therapy with its cancer drug Keytruda as interim data showed
it was unlikely to meet the main goals, making it the drugmaker's third
trial for the disease to be abandoned.
The setbacks were likely to put Merck further behind in its quest to
develop a treatment for advanced forms of the most common cancer type in
the United States.
It had in January stopped a late-stage study of the drug in some
prostate cancer patients. Keytruda belongs to a class of drugs known as
checkpoint inhibitors, which disables the programmed death 1, or PD-1,
protein that helps tumors evade the immune system.
The decision did not come as a surprise as prostate cancers have
historically not been responsive to this class of drugs, said Mara
Goldstein, analyst at Mizuho Securities.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Mar/01/images/ads/current/charrons_bch_2022.png)
"The incremental cost to (pursue these trials) is probably low relative
to what the potential return is," said Goldstein.
An interim analysis showed the combination therapy did not extend
survival or help extend the time a patient lives without the disease
worsening compared to placebo, Merck said.
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![](../images/030123PIX/health73.jpg)
Signage is seen at the Merck & Co.
headquarters in Kenilworth, New Jersey, U.S., November 13, 2021.
REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2015/May/02/images/ads/current/guzzardo_lda022609.png) The treatment was also associated
with a higher rate of serious adverse events compared to placebo
group, the U.S. drugmaker said.
Merck was testing its blockbuster immunotherapy in combination with
androgen deprivation therapy and Xtandi, made by Pfizer Inc and
Astellas Pharma Inc, in patients with an advanced form of
treatment-resistant prostate cancer.
Additionally, Merck said another combination treatment with Keytruda
did not meet the main goal in a separate late-stage study for a type
of lung cancer that can spread to other parts of the body.
Shares of the New Jersey-based company fell nearly 2% to $107.44 in
early trading.
(Reporting by Bhanvi Satija in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur)
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