Update on phase III KEYLYNK-006 trial evaluating Keytruda (pembrolizumab) + maintenance Lynparza (olaparib) for certain patients with metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer. Merck Inc., + AstraZeneca
Merck Inc., known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, announced that the Phase III KEYLYNK-006 trial evaluating Keytruda, Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, in combination with maintenance Lynparza, a PARP inhibitor, did not meet its dual primary endpoints of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) for the first-line treatment of certain patients with metastatic nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
In the KEYLYNK-006 trial , Keytruda in combination with chemotherapy followed by Keytruda plus maintenance Lynparza did not meet the study’s pre-specified statistical criteria for OS or PFS compared to Keytruda in combination with chemotherapy (pemetrexed plus carboplatin or cisplatin) followed by Keytruda plus maintenance chemotherapy (pemetrexed). The safety profiles of Keytruda and Lynparza in this trial were consistent with those observed in previously reported studies for the individual therapies.
A full evaluation of the data from this study is ongoing. Merck will work with investigators to share the results with the scientific community.
“As lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer death worldwide, we are committed to exploring Keytruda -based combinations and novel candidates that may further help improve patient outcomes,” said Dr. Gregory Lubiniecki, vice president, global clinical development, Merck Research Laboratories. “These results are an important reminder of how challenging it may be to treat these patients with metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer. We sincerely thank the patients and investigators for their important contributions to this study.”
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