Long-term Keytruda data show durable responses

Follow-up data from the Phase Ib KEYNOTE-001 study of Keytruda pembrolizumab from Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK) to treat advanced melanoma showed a three-year overall survival (OS) rate of 40% and median OS of 24.4 months. The data were presented at a media briefing and in a written abstract released ahead of a planned June 6 presentation at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting in Chicago.

Among 655 total patients, 95 (15%) achieved a complete response by immune-related response criteria. Among those, 61 subsequently stopped Keytruda. At the time of long-term follow-up, 59 of the 61 remained in complete remission. ...