MRK Merck and Co Inc

By Colin Kellaher

Merck & Co. on Monday said a phase 3 study evaluating its cancer drug Keytruda in adults with relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma met one of its dual primary endpoints.

The Kenilworth, N.J., drug maker said Keytruda showed a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival compared with the currently approved therapy of brentuximab vedotin.

Merck said the other primary endpoint of overall survival wasn't formally tested at this interim analysis per the study's pre-specified analysis plan.

Merck said Keytruda's safety profile was consistent with previous studies, with no new safety signals identified.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in March 2017 approved Keytruda for adults and pediatric patients with refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma, or who have relapsed after three or more prior lines of therapy. The company said the latest study data are strongly supportive of Keytruda's current indication.

Write to Colin Kellaher at colin.kellaher@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 02, 2020 07:08 ET (12:08 GMT)

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