Keytruda shows continued PFS improvement in first-line NSCLC

Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK) reported updated data from 123 chemotherapy-naive patients with metastatic, non-squamous EGFR- and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-negative non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in cohort G of the Phase II portion of the Phase I/II KEYNOTE-021 trial showing that first-line treatment with 200 mg IV Keytruda pembrolizumab (MK-3475) every 3 weeks plus Alimta pemetrexed and carboplatin continued to improve progression-free survival (PFS) and overall response rate (ORR) with an additional 5 months of follow-up.

In cohort G, Keytruda plus Alimta and carboplatin led to a median PFS of 19 months vs. 8.9 months for Alimta and carboplatin alone (HR=0.54, 95% CI: 0.33, 0.88, p=0.0067). Keytruda plus Alimta and carboplatin also improved the PFS rate at 12 (57% vs. 37%) and 18 (52% vs. 29%) months vs. Alimta and carboplatin alone. Keytruda plus Alimta and carboplatin led to an ORR of 56.7% vs. 31.7% for Alimta and carboplatin alone (p=0.0029). At a median follow-up of 18.7 months, median duration of response has not been reached in either arm...