Merck halts enrollment of Phase III KEYNOTE-185 trial of Keytruda in MM

Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK) halted enrollment in the open-label, international Phase III KEYNOTE-185 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-185 is evaluating Keytruda plus Revlimid lenalidomide and dexamethasone vs. Revlimid plus dexamethasone alone in about 640 patients with newly diagnosed and treatment-naïve MM who are ineligible for an autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). The primary endpoint is progression-free survival (PFS) and the secondary endpoint is overall survival (OS)...