Merck's Keytruda-ADC drug combo 'support superiority' to chemotherapy - brokerage
25/09/2023 12:52
** Brokerage Leerink Partners says the success of Merck's
MRK.N blockbuster immunotherapy Keytruda in combination with
Seagen SGEN.O and Astellas Pharma's 4503.T Padcev "support
superiority" over traditional chemotherapy
** MRK said on Friday Keytruda and SGEN's Padcev prolonged
lives of patients and improved the time taken for the cancer to
worsen, compared to chemotherapy
** The Keytruda/Padcev combination includes anti-PD1
therapies which help the body's own immune system fend off
cancer by blocking a protein called PD-1
** ADCs are antibody-based drugs, often called
"guided-missiles", that target specific cancer antigens while
not harming healthy cells
** Says the trial results could help convert the combination
treatment's accelerated approval into full approval - brokerage
** Brokerage expects investors were not surprised by failure
of a combination of Keytruda and Eisai's Lenvima in two
late-stage studies testing it as treatment for a type of lung
cancer
** Up to last close, MRK down ~4.2% YTD
** As of last close, SGEN, which is being acquired by Pfizer
PFE.N , up ~66.3% YTD
(Reporting by Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru)
((Mariam.ESunny@thomsonreuters.com;))