- Merck (NYSE:MRK) is up 3% premarket on modest volume on the heels of its announcement of positive results from the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-042 study assessing KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) for the first-line treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
- The study met the primary endpoint of a statistically significant improvement in overall survival (OS) versus platinum-based chemo in patients with a PD-L1 tumor proportion score of at least 1%.
- Progression-free survival (PFS), a secondary endpoint, is still being evaluated.
- Detailed results will be submitted for presentation at an upcoming medical conference (ASCO) and will be submitted to global regulatory authorities.