Merck reports first OS, PFS data for MK-3475

Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK) on Tuesday presented at the World Conference on Lung Cancer in Sydney overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) data for the pharma's MK-3475, a humanized IgG4 mAb against programmed cell death 1 ( PDCD1; PD-1; CD279) in development for melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In 38 evaluable previously treated NSCLC patients in the Phase Ib PN001 trial, MK-3475 every three weeks led to a median OS of 51 weeks. The compound also led to a median PFS of 9.1 weeks as measured by investigator-assessed, immune-related response criteria and 9.7 weeks as assessed by RECIST criteria. PN001 is enrolling patients with progressive locally advanced or metastatic carcinoma, melanoma or NSCLC.

Earlier this month, Merck reported data from the NSCLC cohort showing that MK-3475 led to an objective response rate (ORR) of 24% as measured by investigator-assessed response criteria and of 21% as assessed by RECIST criteria. The pharma also previously reported that MK-3475 led to an ORR of 38% as assessed by an independent review in a cohort of 117 evaluable patients with advanced melanoma in the trial. ...