KEYTRUDA is now the first and only anti-PD-1 therapy FDA-approved in combination with chemotherapy for adult patients with primary advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma regardless of mismatch repair status
Approval marks the third FDA-approved indication for KEYTRUDA in endometrial carcinoma and the 40th indication for KEYTRUDA in the US
RAHWAY, NJ, USA I June 17, 2024 I Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved KEYTRUDA, Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel, followed by KEYTRUDA as a single agent, for the treatment of adult patients with primary advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma. This approval marks the third endometrial carcinoma indication and the 40th indication overall for KEYTRUDA in the U.S.
The approval is based on data from the Phase 3 NRG-GY018 trial, also known as KEYNOTE-868, in which KEYTRUDA plus carboplatin and paclitaxel followed by KEYTRUDA alone reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 40% (HR=0.60 [95% CI, 0.46-0.78]; p<0.0001) in patients whose cancer was mismatch repair proficient (pMMR) and by 70% (HR=0.30 [95% CI, 0.19-0.48]; p<0.0001) in patients whose cancer was mismatch repair deficient (dMMR), compared to placebo with carboplatin and paclitaxel followed by placebo alone.
“This is the first Phase 3 trial to statistically evaluate an anti-PD-1 immunotherapy plus chemotherapy combination in patients with pMMR and dMMR tumors as two independent cohorts,” said Dr. Ramez N. Eskander, principal investigator, associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Services at University of California San Diego School of Medicine and gynecologic oncologist at Moores Cancer Center at University of California San Diego Health. “The addition of pembrolizumab to chemotherapy represents a new frontline therapeutic option for patients with primary advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma, demonstrating a statistically significant and clinically meaningful progression-free survival benefit compared to chemotherapy alone, regardless of mismatch repair status.”
Immune-mediated adverse reactions, which may be severe or fatal, can occur in any organ system or tissue and can affect more than one body system simultaneously. Immune-mediated adverse reactions can occur at any time during or after treatment with KEYTRUDA, including pneumonitis, colitis, hepatitis, endocrinopathies, nephritis, dermatologic reactions, solid organ transplant rejection, and complications of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Important immune-mediated adverse reactions listed here may not include all possible severe and fatal immune-mediated adverse reactions. Early identification and management of immune-mediated adverse reactions are essential to ensure safe use of KEYTRUDA. Based on the severity of the adverse reaction, KEYTRUDA should be withheld or permanently discontinued and corticosteroids administered if appropriate. KEYTRUDA can also cause severe or life-threatening infusion-related reactions. Based on its mechanism of action, KEYTRUDA can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. For more information, see “Selected Important Safety Information” below.
For patients whose cancer was pMMR, median progression-free survival (PFS) in the KEYTRUDA plus carboplatin and paclitaxel arm was 11.1 months (95% CI, 8.7-13.5) versus 8.5 months (95% CI, 7.2-8.8) for the placebo plus carboplatin and paclitaxel arm; for patients whose cancer was dMMR, median PFS was not reached (95% CI, 30.7-NR) in the KEYTRUDA plus carboplatin and paclitaxel arm versus 6.5 months (95% CI, 6.4-8.7) for the placebo plus carboplatin and paclitaxel arm.
This trial was sponsored by the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health. NRG Oncology designed and led the trial with funding from the NCI and participation from all the National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) groups. Merck provided funding and support through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between Merck and NCI.
“Endometrial cancer is now the most common gynecologic cancer in the U.S., and deaths from the disease are projected to surpass deaths from ovarian cancer in 2024, underscoring the need for treatment advances for more patients,” said Dr. Gursel Aktan, vice president, global clinical development, Merck Research Laboratories. “This approval represents the first and only anti-PD-1-based option for adult patients with primary advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma regardless of mismatch repair status, building on the established role of KEYTRUDA in certain types of advanced endometrial carcinoma as monotherapy and in combination with LENVIMA.”
In the U.S., KEYTRUDA has two additional approved indications in endometrial carcinoma. One indication, based on KEYNOTE-775/Study 309, is in combination with LENVIMA® (lenvatinib), in collaboration with Eisai, for the treatment of adult patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma that is pMMR, as determined by an FDA-approved test, or not microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H), who have disease progression following prior systemic therapy in any setting and are not candidates for curative surgery or radiation. The second indication, based on KEYNOTE-158, is as a single agent, for the treatment of adult patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma that is MSI-H or dMMR, as determined by an FDA-approved test, who have disease progression following prior systemic therapy in any setting and are not candidates for curative surgery or radiation.
This approval was reviewed under Project Orbis, an initiative of the FDA Oncology Center of Excellence that provides a framework for concurrent review of oncology drugs among its international partners. Under this project, the NRG-GY018/KEYNOTE-868 application is still under review by health authorities in Israel, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Brazil and the United Kingdom.
Study design and additional data supporting the approval
NRG-GY018, also known as Merck’s KEYNOTE-868, is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03914612) evaluating KEYTRUDA in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel versus placebo plus carboplatin and paclitaxel. The trial enrolled 810 patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma. The study design included two separate cohorts based on MMR status; 222 patients (27%) were in the dMMR cohort and 588 patients (73%) were in the pMMR cohort. The trial enrolled measurable Stage III, measurable Stage IVA, Stage IVB or recurrent endometrial cancer (with or without measurable disease). Patients who had not received prior systemic therapy or had received prior chemotherapy in the adjuvant setting were eligible. Patients who had received prior adjuvant chemotherapy were only eligible if their chemotherapy-free interval was at least 12 months. Patients with endometrial sarcoma, including carcinosarcoma, or patients with active autoimmune disease or a medical condition that required immunosuppression were ineligible. Randomization was stratified according to MMR status, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (0 or 1 vs. 2), and prior adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients were randomized (1:1) to one of the following treatment arms:
- KEYTRUDA (200 mg) every three weeks (Q3W) plus paclitaxel (175 mg/m2) and carboplatin (Area Under Curve [AUC] 5 mg/mL/min) for six cycles, followed by KEYTRUDA (400 mg) every six weeks (Q6W) for up to 14 cycles, or
- Placebo Q3W plus paclitaxel (175 mg/m2) and carboplatin (AUC 5 mg/mL/min) for six cycles, followed by placebo Q6W for up to 14 cycles.
All study medications were administered as intravenous infusion on Day 1 of each treatment cycle. Treatment continued until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity or a maximum of 20 cycles (up to approximately 24 months). Patients with measurable disease who had RECIST-defined stable disease or partial response at the completion of cycle six were permitted to continue receiving paclitaxel and carboplatin with KEYTRUDA or placebo for up to 10 cycles as determined by the investigator. Assessment of tumor status was performed every nine weeks for the first nine months and then every 12 weeks thereafter. The major efficacy outcome measure was PFS as assessed by the investigator according to RECIST 1.1. An additional efficacy outcome measure was overall survival (OS).
The trial demonstrated statistically significant improvements in PFS for patients randomized to KEYTRUDA in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin compared to placebo in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin in both the dMMR and pMMR populations. At the time of the PFS analysis, OS data were not mature with 12% deaths in the dMMR population and 17% deaths in the pMMR population.
A total of 759 patients received KEYTRUDA (200 mg) every three weeks and chemotherapy for six cycles followed by KEYTRUDA (400 mg) every six weeks for up to 14 cycles (n=382) or placebo and chemotherapy for six cycles followed by placebo for up to 14 cycles (n=377). The median duration of exposure to KEYTRUDA was 5.6 months (range, 1 day to 24.0 months). Serious adverse reactions occurred in 35% of patients receiving KEYTRUDA in combination with chemotherapy, compared to 19% of patients receiving placebo in combination with chemotherapy. Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 1.6% of patients receiving KEYTRUDA in combination with chemotherapy, including COVID-19 (0.5%), and cardiac arrest (0.3%).
KEYTRUDA was discontinued for an adverse reaction in 14% of patients. Chemotherapy dose reduction was required in 29% of patients receiving KEYTRUDA in combination with chemotherapy, compared to 23% of patients receiving placebo in combination with chemotherapy. There were no clinically meaningful differences in chemotherapy discontinuations or interruptions between arms. Adverse reactions occurring in patients treated with KEYTRUDA and chemotherapy were generally similar to those observed with KEYTRUDA alone or chemotherapy alone with the exception of rash (33% all Grades; 2.9% Grades 3-4).
About endometrial carcinoma
Endometrial carcinoma begins in the inner lining of the uterus, which is known as the endometrium, and is the most common type of cancer in the uterus. In the U.S., it is estimated there will be approximately 67,880 new cases of cancer of the uterus and approximately 13,250 deaths from the disease in 2024.
About KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) injection, 100 mg
KEYTRUDA is an anti-programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) therapy that works by increasing the ability of the body’s immune system to help detect and fight tumor cells. KEYTRUDA is a humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks the interaction between PD-1 and its ligands, PD- L1 and PD-L2, thereby activating T lymphocytes which may affect both tumor cells and healthy cells.
Merck has the industry’s largest immuno-oncology clinical research program. There are currently more than 1,600 trials studying KEYTRUDA across a wide variety of cancers and treatment settings. The KEYTRUDA clinical program seeks to understand the role of KEYTRUDA across cancers and the factors that may predict a patient’s likelihood of benefitting from treatment with KEYTRUDA, including exploring several different biomarkers.
Selected KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Indications in the U.S.
Endometrial Carcinoma
KEYTRUDA, in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel, followed by KEYTRUDA as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with primary advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma.
KEYTRUDA, in combination with LENVIMA, is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma that is mismatch repair proficient (pMMR) as determined by an FDA-approved test or not MSI-H, who have disease progression following prior systemic therapy in any setting and are not candidates for curative surgery or radiation.
KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma that is MSI-H or dMMR, as determined by an FDA-approved test, who have disease progression following prior systemic therapy in any setting and are not candidates for curative surgery or radiation.
Please see Prescribing Information for KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) at http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/k/keytruda/keytruda_pi.pdf and Medication Guide for KEYTRUDA at http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/k/keytruda/keytruda_mg.pdf .
About LENVIMA® (lenvatinib); available as 10 mg and 4 mg capsules
LENVIMA, discovered and developed by Eisai, is an orally available multiple receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor that inhibits the kinase activities of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors VEGFR1 (FLT1), VEGFR2 (KDR), and VEGFR3 (FLT4). LENVIMA inhibits other kinases that have been implicated in pathogenic angiogenesis, tumor growth, and cancer progression in addition to their normal cellular functions, including fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptors FGFR1-4, the platelet derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRα), KIT, and RET. In syngeneic mouse tumor models, LENVIMA decreased tumor-associated macrophages, increased activated cytotoxic T cells, and demonstrated greater antitumor activity in combination with an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody compared to either treatment alone.
LENVIMA® (lenvatinib) Indications in the U.S.
- For the treatment of adult patients with locally recurrent or metastatic, progressive, radioactive iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC)
- In combination with pembrolizumab, for the first-line treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC)
- In combination with everolimus, for the treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) following one prior anti-angiogenic therapy
- For the first-line treatment of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
- In combination with pembrolizumab, for the treatment of patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma (EC) that is mismatch repair proficient (pMMR), as determined by an FDA-approved test, or not microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H), who have disease progression following prior systemic therapy in any setting and are not candidates for curative surgery or radiation.
Please see Prescribing Information for LENVIMA (lenvatinib) at http://www.lenvima.com/pdfs/prescribing-information.pdf .
About the Merck Access Program for KEYTRUDA
At Merck, we are committed to supporting accessibility to our cancer medicines. Merck provides multiple programs to help appropriate patients who are prescribed KEYTRUDA have access to our anti-PD-1 therapy. The Merck Access Program provides reimbursement support for patients receiving KEYTRUDA, including information to help with out-of-pocket costs and co-pay assistance for eligible patients. More information is available by calling 855-257-3932 or visiting www.merckaccessprogram-keytruda.com.
About Merck’s Patient Support Program for KEYTRUDA
Merck is committed to helping provide patients and their caregivers support throughout their treatment with KEYTRUDA. The KEY+YOU Patient Support Program provides a range of resources and support. For further information and to sign up, eligible patients may call 85-KEYTRUDA (855-398-7832) or visit www.keytruda.com.
Merck’s focus on cancer
Every day, we follow the science as we work to discover innovations that can help patients, no matter what stage of cancer they have. As a leading oncology company, we are pursuing research where scientific opportunity and medical need converge, underpinned by our diverse pipeline of more than 25 novel mechanisms. With one of the largest clinical development programs across more than 30 tumor types, we strive to advance breakthrough science that will shape the future of oncology. By addressing barriers to clinical trial participation, screening and treatment, we work with urgency to reduce disparities and help ensure patients have access to high-quality cancer care. Our unwavering commitment is what will bring us closer to our goal of bringing life to more patients with cancer. For more information, visit https://www.merck.com/research/oncology/.
About Merck
At Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than 130 years, we have brought hope to humanity through the development of important medicines and vaccines. We aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world – and today, we are at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. We foster a diverse and inclusive global workforce and operate responsibly every day to enable a safe, sustainable and healthy future for all people and communities. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.
SOURCE: Merck
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KEYTRUDA is now the first and only anti-PD-1 therapy FDA-approved in combination with chemotherapy for adult patients with primary advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma regardless of mismatch repair status
Approval marks the third FDA-approved indication for KEYTRUDA in endometrial carcinoma and the 40th indication for KEYTRUDA in the US
RAHWAY, NJ, USA I June 17, 2024 I Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved KEYTRUDA, Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel, followed by KEYTRUDA as a single agent, for the treatment of adult patients with primary advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma. This approval marks the third endometrial carcinoma indication and the 40th indication overall for KEYTRUDA in the U.S.
The approval is based on data from the Phase 3 NRG-GY018 trial, also known as KEYNOTE-868, in which KEYTRUDA plus carboplatin and paclitaxel followed by KEYTRUDA alone reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 40% (HR=0.60 [95% CI, 0.46-0.78]; p<0.0001) in patients whose cancer was mismatch repair proficient (pMMR) and by 70% (HR=0.30 [95% CI, 0.19-0.48]; p<0.0001) in patients whose cancer was mismatch repair deficient (dMMR), compared to placebo with carboplatin and paclitaxel followed by placebo alone.
“This is the first Phase 3 trial to statistically evaluate an anti-PD-1 immunotherapy plus chemotherapy combination in patients with pMMR and dMMR tumors as two independent cohorts,” said Dr. Ramez N. Eskander, principal investigator, associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Services at University of California San Diego School of Medicine and gynecologic oncologist at Moores Cancer Center at University of California San Diego Health. “The addition of pembrolizumab to chemotherapy represents a new frontline therapeutic option for patients with primary advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma, demonstrating a statistically significant and clinically meaningful progression-free survival benefit compared to chemotherapy alone, regardless of mismatch repair status.”
Immune-mediated adverse reactions, which may be severe or fatal, can occur in any organ system or tissue and can affect more than one body system simultaneously. Immune-mediated adverse reactions can occur at any time during or after treatment with KEYTRUDA, including pneumonitis, colitis, hepatitis, endocrinopathies, nephritis, dermatologic reactions, solid organ transplant rejection, and complications of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Important immune-mediated adverse reactions listed here may not include all possible severe and fatal immune-mediated adverse reactions. Early identification and management of immune-mediated adverse reactions are essential to ensure safe use of KEYTRUDA. Based on the severity of the adverse reaction, KEYTRUDA should be withheld or permanently discontinued and corticosteroids administered if appropriate. KEYTRUDA can also cause severe or life-threatening infusion-related reactions. Based on its mechanism of action, KEYTRUDA can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. For more information, see “Selected Important Safety Information” below.
For patients whose cancer was pMMR, median progression-free survival (PFS) in the KEYTRUDA plus carboplatin and paclitaxel arm was 11.1 months (95% CI, 8.7-13.5) versus 8.5 months (95% CI, 7.2-8.8) for the placebo plus carboplatin and paclitaxel arm; for patients whose cancer was dMMR, median PFS was not reached (95% CI, 30.7-NR) in the KEYTRUDA plus carboplatin and paclitaxel arm versus 6.5 months (95% CI, 6.4-8.7) for the placebo plus carboplatin and paclitaxel arm.
This trial was sponsored by the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health. NRG Oncology designed and led the trial with funding from the NCI and participation from all the National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) groups. Merck provided funding and support through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between Merck and NCI.
“Endometrial cancer is now the most common gynecologic cancer in the U.S., and deaths from the disease are projected to surpass deaths from ovarian cancer in 2024, underscoring the need for treatment advances for more patients,” said Dr. Gursel Aktan, vice president, global clinical development, Merck Research Laboratories. “This approval represents the first and only anti-PD-1-based option for adult patients with primary advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma regardless of mismatch repair status, building on the established role of KEYTRUDA in certain types of advanced endometrial carcinoma as monotherapy and in combination with LENVIMA.”
In the U.S., KEYTRUDA has two additional approved indications in endometrial carcinoma. One indication, based on KEYNOTE-775/Study 309, is in combination with LENVIMA® (lenvatinib), in collaboration with Eisai, for the treatment of adult patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma that is pMMR, as determined by an FDA-approved test, or not microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H), who have disease progression following prior systemic therapy in any setting and are not candidates for curative surgery or radiation. The second indication, based on KEYNOTE-158, is as a single agent, for the treatment of adult patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma that is MSI-H or dMMR, as determined by an FDA-approved test, who have disease progression following prior systemic therapy in any setting and are not candidates for curative surgery or radiation.
This approval was reviewed under Project Orbis, an initiative of the FDA Oncology Center of Excellence that provides a framework for concurrent review of oncology drugs among its international partners. Under this project, the NRG-GY018/KEYNOTE-868 application is still under review by health authorities in Israel, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Brazil and the United Kingdom.
Study design and additional data supporting the approval
NRG-GY018, also known as Merck’s KEYNOTE-868, is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03914612) evaluating KEYTRUDA in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel versus placebo plus carboplatin and paclitaxel. The trial enrolled 810 patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma. The study design included two separate cohorts based on MMR status; 222 patients (27%) were in the dMMR cohort and 588 patients (73%) were in the pMMR cohort. The trial enrolled measurable Stage III, measurable Stage IVA, Stage IVB or recurrent endometrial cancer (with or without measurable disease). Patients who had not received prior systemic therapy or had received prior chemotherapy in the adjuvant setting were eligible. Patients who had received prior adjuvant chemotherapy were only eligible if their chemotherapy-free interval was at least 12 months. Patients with endometrial sarcoma, including carcinosarcoma, or patients with active autoimmune disease or a medical condition that required immunosuppression were ineligible. Randomization was stratified according to MMR status, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (0 or 1 vs. 2), and prior adjuvant chemotherapy. Patients were randomized (1:1) to one of the following treatment arms:
- KEYTRUDA (200 mg) every three weeks (Q3W) plus paclitaxel (175 mg/m2) and carboplatin (Area Under Curve [AUC] 5 mg/mL/min) for six cycles, followed by KEYTRUDA (400 mg) every six weeks (Q6W) for up to 14 cycles, or
- Placebo Q3W plus paclitaxel (175 mg/m2) and carboplatin (AUC 5 mg/mL/min) for six cycles, followed by placebo Q6W for up to 14 cycles.
All study medications were administered as intravenous infusion on Day 1 of each treatment cycle. Treatment continued until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity or a maximum of 20 cycles (up to approximately 24 months). Patients with measurable disease who had RECIST-defined stable disease or partial response at the completion of cycle six were permitted to continue receiving paclitaxel and carboplatin with KEYTRUDA or placebo for up to 10 cycles as determined by the investigator. Assessment of tumor status was performed every nine weeks for the first nine months and then every 12 weeks thereafter. The major efficacy outcome measure was PFS as assessed by the investigator according to RECIST 1.1. An additional efficacy outcome measure was overall survival (OS).
The trial demonstrated statistically significant improvements in PFS for patients randomized to KEYTRUDA in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin compared to placebo in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin in both the dMMR and pMMR populations. At the time of the PFS analysis, OS data were not mature with 12% deaths in the dMMR population and 17% deaths in the pMMR population.
A total of 759 patients received KEYTRUDA (200 mg) every three weeks and chemotherapy for six cycles followed by KEYTRUDA (400 mg) every six weeks for up to 14 cycles (n=382) or placebo and chemotherapy for six cycles followed by placebo for up to 14 cycles (n=377). The median duration of exposure to KEYTRUDA was 5.6 months (range, 1 day to 24.0 months). Serious adverse reactions occurred in 35% of patients receiving KEYTRUDA in combination with chemotherapy, compared to 19% of patients receiving placebo in combination with chemotherapy. Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 1.6% of patients receiving KEYTRUDA in combination with chemotherapy, including COVID-19 (0.5%), and cardiac arrest (0.3%).
KEYTRUDA was discontinued for an adverse reaction in 14% of patients. Chemotherapy dose reduction was required in 29% of patients receiving KEYTRUDA in combination with chemotherapy, compared to 23% of patients receiving placebo in combination with chemotherapy. There were no clinically meaningful differences in chemotherapy discontinuations or interruptions between arms. Adverse reactions occurring in patients treated with KEYTRUDA and chemotherapy were generally similar to those observed with KEYTRUDA alone or chemotherapy alone with the exception of rash (33% all Grades; 2.9% Grades 3-4).
About endometrial carcinoma
Endometrial carcinoma begins in the inner lining of the uterus, which is known as the endometrium, and is the most common type of cancer in the uterus. In the U.S., it is estimated there will be approximately 67,880 new cases of cancer of the uterus and approximately 13,250 deaths from the disease in 2024.
About KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) injection, 100 mg
KEYTRUDA is an anti-programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) therapy that works by increasing the ability of the body’s immune system to help detect and fight tumor cells. KEYTRUDA is a humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks the interaction between PD-1 and its ligands, PD- L1 and PD-L2, thereby activating T lymphocytes which may affect both tumor cells and healthy cells.
Merck has the industry’s largest immuno-oncology clinical research program. There are currently more than 1,600 trials studying KEYTRUDA across a wide variety of cancers and treatment settings. The KEYTRUDA clinical program seeks to understand the role of KEYTRUDA across cancers and the factors that may predict a patient’s likelihood of benefitting from treatment with KEYTRUDA, including exploring several different biomarkers.
Selected KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Indications in the U.S.
Endometrial Carcinoma
KEYTRUDA, in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel, followed by KEYTRUDA as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with primary advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma.
KEYTRUDA, in combination with LENVIMA, is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma that is mismatch repair proficient (pMMR) as determined by an FDA-approved test or not MSI-H, who have disease progression following prior systemic therapy in any setting and are not candidates for curative surgery or radiation.
KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma that is MSI-H or dMMR, as determined by an FDA-approved test, who have disease progression following prior systemic therapy in any setting and are not candidates for curative surgery or radiation.
Please see Prescribing Information for KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) at http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/k/keytruda/keytruda_pi.pdf and Medication Guide for KEYTRUDA at http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/k/keytruda/keytruda_mg.pdf .
About LENVIMA® (lenvatinib); available as 10 mg and 4 mg capsules
LENVIMA, discovered and developed by Eisai, is an orally available multiple receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor that inhibits the kinase activities of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors VEGFR1 (FLT1), VEGFR2 (KDR), and VEGFR3 (FLT4). LENVIMA inhibits other kinases that have been implicated in pathogenic angiogenesis, tumor growth, and cancer progression in addition to their normal cellular functions, including fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptors FGFR1-4, the platelet derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRα), KIT, and RET. In syngeneic mouse tumor models, LENVIMA decreased tumor-associated macrophages, increased activated cytotoxic T cells, and demonstrated greater antitumor activity in combination with an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody compared to either treatment alone.
LENVIMA® (lenvatinib) Indications in the U.S.
- For the treatment of adult patients with locally recurrent or metastatic, progressive, radioactive iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC)
- In combination with pembrolizumab, for the first-line treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC)
- In combination with everolimus, for the treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) following one prior anti-angiogenic therapy
- For the first-line treatment of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
- In combination with pembrolizumab, for the treatment of patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma (EC) that is mismatch repair proficient (pMMR), as determined by an FDA-approved test, or not microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H), who have disease progression following prior systemic therapy in any setting and are not candidates for curative surgery or radiation.
Please see Prescribing Information for LENVIMA (lenvatinib) at http://www.lenvima.com/pdfs/prescribing-information.pdf .
About the Merck Access Program for KEYTRUDA
At Merck, we are committed to supporting accessibility to our cancer medicines. Merck provides multiple programs to help appropriate patients who are prescribed KEYTRUDA have access to our anti-PD-1 therapy. The Merck Access Program provides reimbursement support for patients receiving KEYTRUDA, including information to help with out-of-pocket costs and co-pay assistance for eligible patients. More information is available by calling 855-257-3932 or visiting www.merckaccessprogram-keytruda.com.
About Merck’s Patient Support Program for KEYTRUDA
Merck is committed to helping provide patients and their caregivers support throughout their treatment with KEYTRUDA. The KEY+YOU Patient Support Program provides a range of resources and support. For further information and to sign up, eligible patients may call 85-KEYTRUDA (855-398-7832) or visit www.keytruda.com.
Merck’s focus on cancer
Every day, we follow the science as we work to discover innovations that can help patients, no matter what stage of cancer they have. As a leading oncology company, we are pursuing research where scientific opportunity and medical need converge, underpinned by our diverse pipeline of more than 25 novel mechanisms. With one of the largest clinical development programs across more than 30 tumor types, we strive to advance breakthrough science that will shape the future of oncology. By addressing barriers to clinical trial participation, screening and treatment, we work with urgency to reduce disparities and help ensure patients have access to high-quality cancer care. Our unwavering commitment is what will bring us closer to our goal of bringing life to more patients with cancer. For more information, visit https://www.merck.com/research/oncology/.
About Merck
At Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than 130 years, we have brought hope to humanity through the development of important medicines and vaccines. We aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world – and today, we are at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. We foster a diverse and inclusive global workforce and operate responsibly every day to enable a safe, sustainable and healthy future for all people and communities. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.
SOURCE: Merck
Post Views: 2,012
