Homepage > Company > Media > Pharma News > 2020 > Keytruda/Lenvima combo shows promise in hard-to-treat cancers

Keytruda/Lenvima combo shows promise in hard-to-treat cancers

MSD (Merck) and Eisai have revealed new data from two trials under the LEAP clinical programme evaluating the combination of MSD’s PD-1 inhibitor Keytruda and Eisai’s oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor Lenvima.

The results, presented at the 2020 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) virtual congress, showed that Keytruda (pembrolizumab) plus Lenvima (lenvatinib) demonstrated an objective response rate (ORR) of 21.4% in patients with unresectable or advance melanoma who had previously progressed on an anti-PD-1/L1 therapy.

In another phase II trial, Keytruda plus Lenvima demonstrated an ORR between 9.7-32.3% in previously treated patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), ovarian cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and biliary tract cancer (BTC).

However, the combo treatment performed better in certain cancers compared to others, reporting a response in 32.3% of highly-treated ovarian cancer patients and 29% of previously treated TNBC patients.

In third-line gastric cancer or second-line biliary tract cancer, the response rate was less impressive, with a 9.7% response rate recorded in each group. In addition, Keytruda plus Lenvima produced a 16.1% response rate in the rare brain cancer glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and biliary tract cancer (BTC).

“These new data from our LEAP clinical program show encouraging activity across several aggressive cancer types and expand our knowledge about the potential of KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA to help a range of patients with these cancers,” said Scot Ebbinghaus, vice president, Clinical Research, Merck Research Laboratories.

“This is the first time that clinical data from two LEAP trials are being presented, reflecting important progress we are making to explore the potential of this combination for patients in need of new options, particularly those with advanced melanoma who have progressed on an anti-PD-1 or PD-L1 therapy,” he added.

21st September 2020

http://www.pharmatimes.com/

Read also

Phase 3 trials of treatment combo for hepatitis D expected in 2025

On the heels of positive Phase 2 clinical trial data, Vir Biotechnology is planning for the 2025 launch of a Phase 3 program, dubbed ECLIPSE, to test its treatment combination of tobevibart and elebsi...

Breakthrough Therapy Designation Market Is Booming Worldwide 2024-2032

The Breakthrough Therapy Designation market has witnessed significant growth over the past decade, driven by advancements in technology, shifting consumer preferences, and increasing investments from ...

Veeva Commercial Summit: Increased investment in medical affairs by pharma companies

Veeva’s VP of global medical, Christoph Bug, emphasises the importance of scientific exchange between clinical experts and pharmaceutical companies.

Remix

Remix Therapeutics to Present Preclinical Data Demonstrating Anti-Leukemic Activity of REM-422 in AML at the 66th American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting and Exposition (ASH)