Merck Presents Interim NSCLC Data

Merck has presented interim data from a Phase IB trial of MK-3475, an investigational anti-PD-1 immunotherapy, in patients with previously-treated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The data were presented at the 15th World Conference on Lung Cancer in Sydney, Australia.

Detailed interim data were presented for response rates and safety from a cohort of 38 previously-treated NSCLC patients who received MK-3475 10mg/kg every three weeks as well as initial findings from an analysis of the relationship between response rates and PD-L1 expression.

Based on data from this Phase IB study, Merck initiated a Phase II/III trial comparing two doses of MK-3475, 10mg/kg every three weeks and 2mg/kg every three weeks (10mg/kg Q3W and 2mg/kg Q3W), versus docetaxel in previously-treated patients with NSCLC who have received at least one prior treatment regimen. Merck plans to present data from ongoing studies evaluating 10mg/kgQ2W and 10mg/kgQ3W dosing regimens for MK-3475 in patients with NSCLC in 2014.