BioCentury
ARTICLE | Product Development

Redrawing the lines

What oncologists learned about Keytruda, PD-L1 and TMB at AACR

April 21, 2018 1:28 AM UTC

Word that Merck & Co. Inc.’s Keytruda pembrolizumab had “won” the first-line lung cancer showdown with Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. at AACR spread quickly on Monday, but there was little discussion among investors and in the media about the implications for clinical practice and future development.

Oncologists told BioCentury that in addition to removing the brakes on use of immunotherapy in the first-line setting and setting Keytruda up to be standard of care, the data suggest PD-L1 expression will remain important to guide its use...