By Colin Kellaher


Merck & Co. on Friday said a Phase 3 study of its blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda met its primary endpoint in certain patients with endometrial carcinoma, the most common type of gynecologic cancer in the U.S.

The Kenilworth, N.J., drugmaker said Keytruda plus chemotherapy significantly improved progression-free survival versus standard of care chemotherapy alone as first-line treatment for patients with stage III-IV or recurrent endometrial carcinoma, regardless of mismatch repair status.

Merck said patients with advanced-stage or recurrent endometrial cancer currently face a poor prognosis with limited treatment options.

Merck is studying Keytruda, a cancer drug that harnesses a patient's immune system to fight tumors, in a raft of trials across a wide variety of cancers and treatment settings.

The drug, which is approved in dozens of indications around the world, generated sales of nearly $21 billion last year.


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


(END) Dow Jones Newswires

02-03-23 0714ET