Wednesday was an eventful day for Merck’s blockbuster drug Keytruda (pembrolizumab), as it suffered a rare setback in prostate cancer while simultaneously celebrating a major victory in biliary tract cancer.
The results of the Phase III KEYNOTE-991 trial in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer have been revealed in an interim analysis, finding that the combination of Keytruda, enzalutamide, and androgen deprivation therapy does not improve overall survival or radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS). This finding is a disappointment for those hoping that Keytruda could lead to better outcomes for those suffering from prostate cancer.
The independent Data Monitoring Committee has advised Merck to end the trial, leading Merck to take their advice and cease the trial.
The KEYNOTE-991 trial was an exciting opportunity to study the effects of Keytruda, a powerful immunotherapy drug, on prostate cancer. Over 1,250 patients took part in this randomized and double-blinded trial and were randomly assigned to receive either 200-mg intravenous doses of Keytruda every three weeks, or a placebo. All participants also received enzalutamide and androgen deprivation therapy. The results of this trial could have significant implications for the treatment of prostate cancer.
The safety profile of Keytruda in this patient population was found to be consistent with previous studies, but there were an increased number of grade 3-5 adverse events and serious adverse events in Keytruda-treated patients. Despite this, the trial still showed that Keytruda was an effective treatment.
Keytruda, the blockbuster drug, recently experienced a major setback in August 2022, when it failed to meet its dual primary endpoints in the Phase III KEYNOTE-921 trial. The trial, which looked at the effects of Keytruda combined with prednisone and chemotherapy on metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, failed to show significant gains in overall survival and progression-free survival compared to placebo. This marks the second major failure for Keytruda in recent years, following the KEYNOTE-991 trial.
In July 2022, Merck’s Keytruda drug was unable to improve event-free survival for patients with unresected, locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, following its failure in a Phase III trial. This disappointing outcome marked yet another setback for the drug’s development.
Merck’s Keytruda is making waves in the fight against prostate cancer, with three ongoing trials all focusing on mCRPC. Among them is KEYNOTE-199 and KEYNOTE-365, both Phase II studies, as well as KEYNOTE-641, a registrational Phase III trial. Together, these trials are paving the way for a potential breakthrough in prostate cancer treatment.
Keytruda Boosts Survival in Biliary Tract Cancer
Keytruda has scored a major victory in the treatment of biliary tract cancer, offering hope to those suffering from the advanced or unresectable form of this disease. In the Phase III KEYNOTE-966 trial, the drug showed strong results when combined with gemcitabine and cisplatin, achieving the primary endpoint of overall survival. This is a huge step forward for those battling prostate cancer, and a cause for optimism.
The safety profile of Keytruda in this study was in line with expectations, reaffirming its established reputation for safety.
This groundbreaking randomized and double-blinded trial has enrolled over 1,000 participants, comparing the Keytruda combo with standard of care chemotherapy alone. Not only is this exciting study examining overall survival, but it is also assessing progression-free survival, objective response rate, duration of response, and safety. A potential breakthrough awaits us as we eagerly await the results of this trial!
The exciting findings from KEYNOTE-966 will be unveiled at a forthcoming medical conference, providing an opportunity for regulators to evaluate these data. This will be a significant step forward in the company’s mission to gain approval for the study.