Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and
Canada, is proud to be a part of the Blueprint PD-L1 Assay
Comparison Project, an important initiative to compare several new
diagnostic tests for the immune biomarker PD-L1 in non-small cell
lung cancer (NSCLC). Merck believes strongly in the importance of
PD-L1 testing in NSCLC, and is committed to supporting the
Blueprint Project and overall efforts to use diagnostics to help
physicians identify the best treatment approach for their patients
with some cancers.
In oncology, testing is now common for numerous cancer
biomarkers to enable physicians to better tailor treatment
decisions for each patient. The data from a range of studies,
including Merck’s studies of KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab), demonstrate
that PD-L1 testing can be a useful tool to help identify patients
more likely to respond to treatment with an anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy
in certain cancers, including NSCLC.
Phase 1 of the Blueprint Project is an important step toward
understanding the usefulness of the different PD-L1 testing
approaches. Analyses from the Blueprint Project confirm that there
is high concordance for the two approved PD-L1 diagnostics in
NSCLC, including the one used in conjunction with KEYTRUDA, the
PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx assay developed in partnership with Dako
North America, Inc., an Agilent Technologies Company.
“We are very encouraged by the findings from the Blueprint
Project, and are eager to support the greater use of biomarker
testing to advance the care of patients with cancer,” said Dr. Roy
Baynes, senior vice president and head of global clinical
development, Merck Research Laboratories. “This analysis reinforces
our precision medicine approach in NSCLC to help provide physicians
and patients with greater insight into each patient's disease and
therefore greater confidence in their treatment decisions."
Merck is a leader in advancing immuno-oncology through the
development of KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) alongside its Dako
companion diagnostic. We are continuing to build our knowledge of
genetics and biomarkers in order to ensure we can match KEYTRUDA
with patients who are more likely to experience benefit.
About the Blueprint Project
Results from the Blueprint Project, a first-of-its kind
collaboration, were presented at the American Association for
Cancer Research 2016 Annual Meeting.
In March 2015, the AACR in partnership with the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration and the American Society of Clinical Oncology
held a one-day workshop to examine whether multiple companion
diagnostics intended for the same class of therapeutics could be
harmonized. During the workshop, a group of four pharmaceutical
companies and two diagnostic companies released a blueprint
proposal to analytically compare and characterize each of their
IHC-based PD-1/PD-L1 companion diagnostics for non-small cell lung
cancer in the pre-approval stage. The thought was that, upon
approval of these tests, the information generated by this project
could lay the groundwork for additional studies that will help
inform patients, physicians, pathologists, and others on how best
to use the test results to determine treatment decisions.
About KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Injection 100
mg
KEYTRUDA is a humanized monoclonal antibody that works by
increasing the ability of the body’s immune system to help detect
and fight tumor cells. KEYTRUDA blocks the interaction between PD-1
and its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, thereby activating T lymphocytes
which may affect both tumor cells and healthy cells.
KEYTRUDA is indicated in the United States for the treatment of
patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma.
KEYTRUDA is also indicated for the treatment of patients with
metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors express
PD-L1 as determined by an FDA-approved test with disease
progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy. Patients
with EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations should have disease
progression on FDA-approved therapy for these aberrations prior to
receiving KEYTRUDA. The NSCLC indication is approved under
accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of
response. An improvement in survival or disease-related symptoms
has not yet been established. Continued approval for this
indication may be contingent upon verification and description of
clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.
KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) is administered at a dose of 2 mg/kg as
an intravenous infusion over 30 minutes every three weeks for the
approved indications.
Selected Important Safety Information for
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab)
Immune-mediated pneumonitis occurred in 19 (3.5%) of 550
patients, including Grade 2 (1.1%), 3 (1.3%), 4 (0.4%), or 5 (0.2%)
pneumonitis and occurred more frequently in patients with a history
of asthma/chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (5.4%) or prior
thoracic radiation (6.0%). Monitor patients for signs and symptoms
of pneumonitis. Evaluate suspected pneumonitis with radiographic
imaging. Administer corticosteroids for Grade 2 or greater
pneumonitis. Withhold KEYTRUDA for Grade 2; permanently discontinue
KEYTRUDA for Grade 3 or 4 or recurrent Grade 2 pneumonitis.
Immune-mediated colitis occurred in 4 (0.7%) of 550 patients,
including Grade 2 (0.2%) or 3 (0.4%) colitis. Monitor patients for
signs and symptoms of colitis. Administer corticosteroids for Grade
2 or greater colitis. Withhold KEYTRUDA for Grade 2 or 3;
permanently discontinue KEYTRUDA for Grade 4 colitis.
Immune-mediated hepatitis occurred in patients receiving
KEYTRUDA. Monitor patients for changes in liver function.
Administer corticosteroids for Grade 2 or greater hepatitis and,
based on severity of liver enzyme elevations, withhold or
discontinue KEYTRUDA.
Hypophysitis occurred in 1 (0.2%) of 550 patients, which was
Grade 3 in severity. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of
hypophysitis (including hypopituitarism and adrenal insufficiency).
Administer corticosteroids and hormone replacement as clinically
indicated. Withhold KEYTRUDA for Grade 2; withhold or discontinue
for Grade 3 or 4 hypophysitis.
Hyperthyroidism occurred in 10 (1.8%) of 550 patients, including
Grade 2 (0.7%) or 3 (0.3%) hyperthyroidism. Hypothyroidism occurred
in 38 (6.9%) of 550 patients, including Grade 2 (5.5%) or 3 (0.2%)
hypothyroidism. Thyroid disorders can occur at any time during
treatment. Monitor patients for changes in thyroid function (at the
start of treatment, periodically during treatment, and as indicated
based on clinical evaluation) and for clinical signs and symptoms
of thyroid disorders. Administer replacement hormones for
hypothyroidism and manage hyperthyroidism with thionamides and
beta-blockers as appropriate. Withhold or discontinue KEYTRUDA for
Grade 3 or 4 hyperthyroidism.
Type 1 diabetes mellitus, including diabetic ketoacidosis,
occurred in 3 (0.1%) of 2117 patients. Monitor patients for
hyperglycemia or other signs and symptoms of diabetes. Administer
insulin for type 1 diabetes, and withhold KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab)
and administer anti-hyperglycemics in patients with severe
hyperglycemia.
Immune-mediated nephritis occurred in patients receiving
KEYTRUDA. Monitor patients for changes in renal function.
Administer corticosteroids for Grade 2 or greater nephritis.
Withhold KEYTRUDA for Grade 2; permanently discontinue KEYTRUDA for
Grade 3 or 4 nephritis.
Other clinically important immune-mediated adverse reactions can
occur. For suspected immune-mediated adverse reactions, ensure
adequate evaluation to confirm etiology or exclude other causes.
Based on the severity of the adverse reaction, withhold KEYTRUDA
and administer corticosteroids. Upon improvement to Grade 1 or
less, initiate corticosteroid taper and continue to taper over at
least 1 month. Based on limited data from clinical studies in
patients whose immune-related adverse reactions could not be
controlled with corticosteroid use, administration of other
systemic immunosuppressants can be considered. Resume KEYTRUDA when
the adverse reaction remains at Grade 1 or less following
corticosteroid taper. Permanently discontinue KEYTRUDA for any
Grade 3 immune-mediated adverse reaction that recurs and for any
life-threatening immune-mediated adverse reaction.
The following clinically significant, immune-mediated adverse
reactions occurred in less than 1% of 550 patients: rash,
vasculitis, hemolytic anemia, serum sickness, and myasthenia
gravis.
Severe and life-threatening infusion-related reactions have been
reported in 3 (0.1%) of 2117 patients. Monitor patients for signs
and symptoms of infusion-related reactions including rigors,
chills, wheezing, pruritus, flushing, rash, hypotension, hypoxemia,
and fever. For Grade 3 or 4 reactions, stop infusion and
permanently discontinue KEYTRUDA.
Based on its mechanism of action, KEYTRUDA can cause fetal harm
when administered to a pregnant woman. If used during pregnancy, or
if the patient becomes pregnant during treatment, apprise the
patient of the potential hazard to a fetus. Advise females of
reproductive potential to use highly effective contraception during
treatment and for 4 months after the last dose of KEYTRUDA.
KEYTRUDA was discontinued due to adverse reactions in 14% of 550
patients. Serious adverse reactions occurred in 38% of patients.
The most frequent serious adverse reactions reported in at least 2%
of patients were pleural effusion, pneumonia, dyspnea, pulmonary
embolism, and pneumonitis. The most common adverse reactions
(reported in at least 20% of patients) were fatigue (44%), cough
(29%), decreased appetite (25%), and dyspnea (23%).
No formal pharmacokinetic drug interaction studies have been
conducted with KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab).
It is not known whether KEYTRUDA is excreted in human milk.
Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, instruct women to
discontinue nursing during treatment with KEYTRUDA and for 4 months
after the final dose.
Safety and effectiveness of KEYTRUDA have not been established
in pediatric patients.
Our Focus on Cancer
Our goal is to translate breakthrough science into innovative
oncology medicines to help people with cancer worldwide. At Merck
Oncology, helping people fight cancer is our passion and supporting
accessibility to our cancer medicines is our commitment. Our focus
is on pursuing research in immuno-oncology and we are accelerating
every step in the journey – from lab to clinic – to potentially
bring new hope to people with cancer. For more information about
our oncology clinical trials, visit
www.merck.com/clinicaltrials.
About Merck
For 125 years, Merck has been a global health care leader
working to help the world be well. Merck is known as MSD outside
the United States and Canada. Through our prescription medicines,
vaccines, biologic therapies, and animal health products, we work
with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver
innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to
increasing access to health care through far-reaching policies,
programs and partnerships. For more information, visit
www.merck.com and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and
LinkedIn.
Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc.,
Kenilworth, N.J., USA
This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J.,
USA (the “company”) includes “forward-looking statements” within
the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are
based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s
management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties.
There can be no guarantees with respect to pipeline products that
the products will receive the necessary regulatory approvals or
that they will prove to be commercially successful. If underlying
assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize,
actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the
forward-looking statements.
Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general
industry conditions and competition; general economic factors,
including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations;
the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care
legislation in the United States and internationally; global trends
toward health care cost containment; technological advances, new
products and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent
in new product development, including obtaining regulatory
approval; the company’s ability to accurately predict future market
conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial
instability of international economies and sovereign risk;
dependence on the effectiveness of the company’s patents and other
protections for innovative products; and the exposure to
litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory
actions.
The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any
forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause
results to differ materially from those described in the
forward-looking statements can be found in the company’s 2015
Annual Report on Form 10-K and the company’s other filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) available at the SEC’s
Internet site (www.sec.gov).
Please see Prescribing Information for KEYTRUDA
(pembrolizumab) at
http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/k/keytruda/keytruda_pi.pdf
and
Patient Information/Medication Guide for KEYTRUDA at
http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/k/keytruda/keytruda_mg.pdf.
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