By: IPP Bureau
Last updated : September 16, 2024 9:34 am
At 10 years, more than one-third (34.0%) of patients with advanced melanoma were alive after treatment with KEYTRUDA, compared to 23.6% of patients treated with ipilimumab
Merck announced long-term overall survival (OS) data from the pivotal Phase 3 KEYNOTE-006 trial, evaluating KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab), Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, in patients with advanced melanoma. Based on 10 years of follow-up, the data showed sustained improved survival outcomes for patients receiving KEYTRUDA as a single agent compared to ipilimumab in patients with advanced melanoma.
These late-breaking data will be presented for the first time today during a mini oral session at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2024 (presentation #LBA44) and published in the Annals of Oncology.
“Ten years ago, KEYTRUDA became the first anti-PD-1/L1 therapy approved in the United States, setting the stage for transformative breakthroughs in the treatment of advanced melanoma and other types of cancer,” said Dr. Marjorie Green, senior vice president and head of oncology, global clinical development, Merck Research Laboratories. “KEYTRUDA has reshaped the treatment of certain types of cancers, extending its benefits to a broader range of tumor types and patients, and we look forward to the prospect of more innovation for patients over the next 10 years and beyond.”
“The prognosis for patients diagnosed with melanoma has been steadily improving, with a 30% reduction in mortality compared to a decade ago,” said Dr. Caroline Robert, head of dermatology at Gustave Roussy, Villejuif and Paris-Sud University Cancer Campus, Grand Paris. “These latest data from KEYNOTE-006 illustrate the progress we’ve made in patient care. It is remarkable to see that more than one-third of patients treated with KEYTRUDA are still alive today, 10 years after treatment.”