- Results from a Phase 2 clinical trial, KEYNOTE-224, assessing Merck's (NYSE:MRK) PD-1 inhibitor KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma who were previously treated with Bayer's NEXAVAR (sorafenib) showed a treatment benefit. The data will be presented today at the ASCO-GI Symposium in San Francisco.
- Patients treated with KEYTRUDA alone showed a 16.3% (n=17/104) overall response rate (ORR), the primary endpoint. The complete response rate was 1% (n=1/104) and the partial response rate was 15.4% (n=16/104).
- Median duration of response at the time of analysis was 8.2 months with 94% of responses at least six months. The disease control rate (responders + those with stable disease) was 61.5% (n=64/104). Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 4.8 months. Median overall survival (OS) had not been reached at the time of analysis.
- KEYTRUDA's safety profile was consistent with previous studies.
- Shares are up a fraction premarket.