Merck announced the results of its Phase 3 KEYNOTE-671 trial, which aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in patients with resectable stage II, IIIA, or IIIB non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The trial is continuing to evaluate the other key endpoint, overall survival.
The trial found that Keytruda, when given alongside chemotherapy before and after surgery, improved event-free survival (EFS) in these patients. EFS is defined as the time from randomization to disease recurrence, a new cancer diagnosis, or death from any cause.
Merck has submitted a new supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) based on the KEYNOTE-671 trial. The new indication extension in combination with chemotherapy is for patients with resectable stage II, IIIA, or IIIB NSCLC as neoadjuvant treatment.
Oct 05, 2022
GSK announced positive results from PERLA, a head-to-head trial of Jemperli versus Keytruda
GSK announced that in the PERLA Phase 2 trial, Jemperli (dostarlimab) met the primary endpoint of objective response rate. The trial is evaluating the dostarilab plus chemotherapy combination versus pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy in first-line patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Also read: NICE assessment outcomes
PERLA trial included 243 patients, the largest head-to-head trial of programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) inhibitors in NSCLC. GSK announced that it was not designed to demonstrate superiority over Keytruda. The safety profile was consistent with the previous studies.
GSK also announced that it is advancing both the arms of the COSTAR trial into Phase 3. The COSTAR is an open-label trial comparing cobolimab, dostarlimab, and docetaxel combination versus dostarlimab plus docetaxel versus docetaxel alone in patients with NSCLC who have disease progression after PD-L1 therapy and chemotherapy.
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Aug 15, 2022
Canakinumab failed to meet the primary endpoint in NSCLC patients.
Novartis gave an update on the Phase III CANOPY-A trial stating that canakinumab did not meet the primary endpoint in stages II-IIIA and IIIB completely resected non-small cell lung cancer patients. There was no improvement in the disease-free progression survival compared to placebo.
CANOPY-A trial recruited 1,382 patients and was randomized in 1:1 for canakinumab and placebo.
Jan 10, 2022
Merck's Keytruda showed improvement in disease-free survival versus placebo in stage IB-IIIA NSCLC regardless of PD-L1 expression