New Keytruda (pembrolizumab) data to be presented at 17th World Conference on Lung Cancer highlight research across the spectrum of thoracic malignancies.
Merck announced that new data investigating the use of Keytruda (pembrolizumab), the company’s anti-PD-1 therapy, across multiple thoracic malignancies, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), small cell lung cancer and malignant pleural mesothelioma, will be presented at the 17th World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) hosted by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer in Vienna, Austria, Dec. 4-7. An abstract evaluating quality of life outcomes in first-line NSCLC will be included on Wednesday, Dec. 7.
“Based on the meaningful results already obtained in studies evaluating the use of Keytruda in certain patients with PD-L1 positive non-small cell lung cancer, we have asked whether similar benefits might be associated with Keytruda use in treating other intrathoracic malignancies, including small cell lung cancer and malignant pleural mesothelioma,” said Dr. Roger M. Perlmutter, president, Merck Research Laboratories. “We look forward to sharing our recent findings with the scientific community as we seek to help patients facing these difficult diseases.”
The Keytruda (pembrolizumab) clinical development program includes more than 30 tumor types in more than 360 clinical trials, including over 200 trials that combine Keytruda with other cancer treatments. Merck has an extensive research program in NSCLC and is currently advancing multiple registration-enabling studies with Keytruda as monotherapy and in combination.
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. It is administered as an intravenous infusion over 30 minutes every three weeks for the approved indications. For injection, Keytruda is supplied in a 100 mg single use vial.
Additional meeting information and full abstracts are available on the WCLC meeting website.
(Source: Business Wire)
Filed Under: Drug Discovery
