Merck Highlights New Data From Leading Lung Cancer Clinical Development Program At The IASLC 2019 World Conference On Lung Cancer

Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced new data from the company’s leading clinical development program in lung cancer will be presented at the IASLC 2019 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) hosted by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer in Barcelona, Spain from Sept. 7-10, 2019. More than 30 abstracts evaluating KEYTRUDA, Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, in combination with other cancer therapies and as monotherapy, will be presented. Key data to be presented in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) include new pooled findings from three trials – KEYNOTE-189, KEYNOTE-407 and KEYNOTE-021 (cohort G) – evaluating KEYTRUDA in combination with chemotherapy among a subgroup of patients whose tumors do not express PD-L1. Three-year overall survival (OS) data with KEYTRUDA monotherapy from KEYNOTE-024 will also be presented and was selected for inclusion in the official WCLC press program.

“Our robust lung cancer clinical development program continues to demonstrate that KEYTRUDA provides a foundation for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer,” Dr. Jonathan Cheng, vice president, oncology clinical research, Merck Research Laboratories. “At this year’s World Conference on Lung Cancer, we look forward to presenting new and updated data that further reinforce the overall survival benefit of KEYTRUDA, in combination with chemotherapy or as monotherapy, in appropriate patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.”

Key oral data presentations include:

• First presentation of pooled data from a subgroup of patients whose tumors do not express PD-L1 from the randomized KEYNOTE-189, KEYNOTE-407 and KEYNOTE-021 (cohort G) studies evaluating KEYTRUDA in combination with chemotherapy as first-line treatment in patients with advanced nonsquamous and squamous NSCLC (Abstract #MA25.01) will be presented in a mini oral session on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2:30-2:37 p.m. CEST.
• Three-year OS data from the pivotal Phase 3 KEYNOTE-024 study evaluating KEYTRUDA monotherapy as first-line treatment in patients with advanced NSCLC whose tumors express PD-L1 (tumor proportion score [TPS] ≥50%) (Abstract #OA14.01) will be presented in an oral session on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 11:30-11:40 a.m. CEST and highlighted in the official WCLC press program.
• First presentation of data from a cohort of Chinese patients enrolled in the pivotal Phase 3 KEYNOTE-042 study evaluating KEYTRUDA monotherapy as first-line treatment in patients with advanced NSCLC whose tumors express PD-L1 (TPS ≥1%) (Abstract #MA11.02) will be presented in a mini oral session on Monday, Sept. 9, 2:05-2:10 p.m. CEST.
• First presentation of tissue tumor mutational burden (tTMB) data from the pivotal Phase 3 KEYNOTE-189 study evaluating KEYTRUDA in combination with pemetrexed (ALIMTA^®) and platinum chemotherapy as first-line treatment in patients with metastatic nonsquamous NSCLC (Abstract #OA04.06) will be presented in an oral session on Sunday, Sept. 8, 4:10-4:20 p.m. CEST and highlighted in the official WCLC press program.
• First presentation of tTMB data from the Phase 1/2 KEYNOTE-021 study evaluating KEYTRUDA in combination with platinum chemotherapy as first-line treatment in patients with metastatic nonsquamous NSCLC (Abstract #OA04.05) will be presented in an oral session on Sunday, Sept. 8, 4:00-4:10 p.m. CEST and highlighted in the official WCLC press program.

Other select abstracts to be presented from Merck’s clinical development program include:

• Abstract #MA03.06, Mini Oral Session: Efficacy Results of Selective AXL Inhibitor Bemcentinib with Pembrolizumab Following Chemotherapy in Patients with NSCLC. E. Felip. Sunday, Sept. 8, 11:05-11:10 a.m. CEST. Location: Colorado Springs (1994).
• Abstract #MA14.07, Mini Oral Session: Phase I Expansion Cohort of Ramucirumab Plus Pembrolizumab in Advanced Treatment-Naïve Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (JVDF). R. Herbst. Monday, Sept. 9, 4:25-4:30 p.m. CEST. Location: Hilton Head (1978).
• Abstract #MA19.03, Mini Oral Session: Differences in Symptom Burden Between Responsive and Progressive Disease in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (aNSCLC). G. Simon. Tuesday, Sept. 10, 11:40-11:45 a.m. CEST. Location: Interlaken (1988).
• Abstract #P1.01-72, Poster Viewing: A Phase II Study of Selective AXL Inhibitor Bemcentinib and Pembrolizumab in Patients with NSCLC Refractory to Anti-PD(L)1. M. Krebs. Sunday, Sept. 8, 9:45 a.m. CEST. Location: Exhibit Hall.
• Abstract #P1.01-73, Poster Viewing: An Explorative Analysis of Pemetrexed +/- Pembrolizumab Maintenance from KEYNOTE-189 Versus PARAMOUNT, PRONOUNCE, and JVBL. E. Garon. Sunday, Sept. 8, 9:45 a.m. CEST. Location: Exhibit Hall.
• Abstract #P1.01-107, Poster Viewing: KEYNOTE-495/KeyImPaCT: Phase 2 Biomarker-Directed Study of Pembrolizumab-Based Therapy for Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer. M. Gutierrez. Sunday, Sept. 8, 9:45 a.m. CEST. Location: Exhibit Hall.
• Abstract #P1.01-112, Poster Viewing: Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind Trial of First-Line Pembrolizumab With or Without Lenvatinib in Metastatic NSCLC: LEAP-007. T. Mekhail. Sunday, Sept. 8, 9:45 a.m. CEST. Location: Exhibit Hall.
• Abstract #P1.16-15, Poster Viewing: Rates of Systemic Anticancer Therapy (SACT) for Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (aNSCLC) in the US, 2011–2018. V. Velcheti. Sunday, Sept. 8, 9:45 a.m. CEST. Location: Exhibit Hall.
• Abstract #P1.16-31, Poster Viewing: Body Mass Index Relating to Patient-Reported Symptoms in First-Line Treatment of Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. G. Simon. Sunday, Sept. 8, 9:45 a.m. CEST. Location: Exhibit Hall.
• Abstract #P1.16-42, Poster Viewing: Real-World Trends in Systemic Anticancer Therapy (SACT) for Squamous Advanced NSCLC (aNSCLC) in the US, 2011–2018. V. Velcheti. Sunday, Sept. 8, 9:45 a.m. CEST. Location: Exhibit Hall.
• Abstract #P2.16-17, Poster Viewing: Real-World Trends in Systemic Therapy for Nonsquamous EGFR/ALK-Negative Advanced NSCLC (aNSCLC) in the US, 2011–2018. V. Velcheti. Monday, Sept. 9, 10:15 a.m. CEST. Location: Exhibit Hall.
• Abstract #P2.16-41, Poster Viewing: Pembrolizumab for Previously Treated, PD-L1–Expressing Advanced NSCLC: Real-World Time on Treatment and Overall Survival. V. Velcheti. Monday, Sept. 9, 10:15 a.m. CEST. Location: Exhibit Hall.
• Abstract #P2.01-54, Poster Viewing: Real-World PD-L1 Testing Patterns for Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in Greece. K. Syrigos. Monday, Sept. 9, 10:15 a.m. CEST. Location: Exhibit Hall.
• Abstract #P2.01-12, Poster Viewing: A Phase I/II Trial of IO102 and Pembrolizumab with/without Chemotherapy as First-line Treatment of Metastatic NSCLC. M. Provencio. Monday, Sept. 9, 10:15 a.m. CEST. Location: Exhibit Hall.

Additional meeting information and select full abstracts are available on the WCLC website.

The KEYNOTE-021 (cohort G) and KEYNOTE-189 studies were conducted in collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company, the makers of pemetrexed (ALIMTA^®). – Bio Space