Jan. 25 Quick Takes: Merck reports mixed Phase III Keytruda results

Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK) continues its march into new indications with Keytruda pembrolizumab; this time with positive Phase III data in first-line biliary cancer. Prostate cancer indications, however, continue to prove challenging for the PD-1 inhibitor.

Merck announced Wednesday that Keytruda plus chemotherapy led to a statistically significant improvement in overall survival in the 1,069 patient KEYNOTE-966 study to treat advanced or unresectable biliary tract cancer, though the pharma has not yet disclosed the underlying data. Imfinzi durvalumab from AstraZeneca plc (LSE:AZN; NYSE:AZN) is the only PD-(L)1 inhibitor approved for the indication in the U.S...