Merck Halts Two Phase 3 Trials of Keytruda for Early-Stage Lung and Skin Cancers

Merck's Keytruda Trials Halted:
Merck has discontinued two Phase 3 trials of Keytruda, one for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and another for high-risk skin cancer, due to lack of efficacy and higher adverse events.

KEYNOTE-867 Trial:
The trial for early-stage NSCLC was halted after Keytruda combined with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) failed to improve event-free survival or overall survival compared to placebo plus SBRT. The combination also led to higher rates of adverse events, including fatalities.

KEYNOTE-630 Trial:
The trial for high-risk skin cancer was discontinued after Keytruda did not meet the primary endpoint of recurrence-free survival and showed no advantage over placebo in preventing disease recurrence or death.

Impact on Keytruda's Use:
Despite these setbacks, Keytruda remains a standard of care for metastatic NSCLC and is approved for recurrent or metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) and locally advanced cSCC that cannot be treated with surgery or radiation.

Ongoing Research:
Merck continues to explore Keytruda's potential in various cancer treatments, including ongoing Phase 3 trials combining Keytruda with other therapies for different types of cancers.