Merck's Keytruda leads to responses in MM

Data from an abstract released ahead of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting showed 13 of 17 evaluable patients receiving Keytruda pembrolizumab from Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK) had responses in the Phase I Keynote-023 study to treat relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Merck said the data are the first in MM for Keytruda.

Four patients had very good partial responses and nine had partial responses after a median 287 days of treatment. Keynote-023 enrolled patients that had failed two or more prior therapies, including a proteasome inhibitor and an immunomodulatory agent. Patients received Keytruda in combination with Revlimid lenalidomide and low-dose dexamethasone. The ongoing study's primary endpoints are antitumor activity and safety. ...