Merck halts enrollment of Phase III KEYNOTE-183 trial of Keytruda in MM

Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK) halted enrollment in the Phase III KEYNOTE-183 trial of Keytruda pembrolizumab (MK-3475) to treat multiple myeloma (MM) on a recommendation from an external DMC in order to "better understand more reports of death" in the Keytruda arm. Merck declined to provide further details.

KEYNOTE-183 is evaluating Keytruda plus Pomalyst pomalidomide and dexamethasone vs. Pomalyst plus dexamethasone alone in about 300 patients with refractory or relapsed and refractory MM who received ≥2 lines of prior treatment. The co-primary endpoints are progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). The secondary endpoint is overall response rate (ORR)...