Final Overall Survival Data from KEYNOTE-006 To Be Presented at ASCO; KEYTRUDA, the First Anti-PD-1 Monotherapy to Demonstrate Overall Survival Compared to Ipilimumab, Shows Continued Benefit with Longer Follow-Up
KEYNOTE-001 Findings Show Continued Benefit in Response Rates, Duration of Response, and Include New Three-Year Overall Survival Data for KEYTRUDA
Merck known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced final overall survival (OS) data from KEYNOTE-006 and new findings from KEYNOTE-001, including updated response rates, duration of response data and three-year OS data with KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab), the company’s anti-PD-1 therapy, in patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma. Findings from the final OS analysis from KEYNOTE-006, a phase 3 study evaluating KEYTRUDA as monotherapy compared to ipilimumab, continue to show a significant survival benefit compared to ipilimumab in the first-line setting for advanced melanoma. These data will be presented at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago, June 3 – 7, 2016.
Long-term OS data from KEYNOTE-006 to be presented at ASCO showed that with KEYTRUDA, 55.1 percent and 55.3 percent of patients were alive two years after starting treatment (10 mg/kg every two weeks and three weeks, respectively), compared to 43 percent of patients receiving ipilimumab (hazard ratio: 0.68 [95% CI, 0.53-0.87; p=0.0008] and hazard ratio: 0.68 [95% CI, 0.53-0.86; p=0.0008], respectively). These data will be presented by Dr. Jacob Schachter, Ella Institute for Research and Treatment of Melanoma, Sheba Medical Center, in an oral session on Monday, June 6, from 2:27 to 2:39 p.m. CDT (Location: Arie Crown Theater) (Abstract #9504).
Additionally, data from KEYNOTE-001, including the long-term, three-year OS analysis, were featured in the official ASCO Press Program today and will be presented at ASCO in Chicago. The primary efficacy measure in KEYNOTE-001 was overall response rate (ORR), and secondary outcome measures included duration of response, progression-free survival (PFS) and OS. The data from KEYNOTE-001 discussed today will be presented along with additional findings in an oral session by Dr. Caroline Robert, Institut Gustave-Roussy, on Monday, June 6, from 2:15 to 2:27 p.m. CDT (Location: Arie Crown Theater) (Abstract #9503).
“With longer-term follow-up from two studies, including a head-to-head trial demonstrating superior survival compared to another immunotherapy, we are continuing to see durability of response with KEYTRUDA as monotherapy,” said Dr. Roger Dansey, senior vice president and therapeutic area head, oncology late-stage development, Merck Research Laboratories. “These results add to the growing body of data supporting the use of KEYTRUDA as first-line treatment in advanced melanoma, and serve as an important reminder for what we are aiming to achieve through our immuno-oncology development program – enhanced survival for people with cancer.”
Findings from the melanoma cohorts of the phase 1b KEYNOTE-001 trial, which included 655 patients, showed an ORR of 33 percent (per RECIST v1.1). At the time of the analysis, a response duration of two years or more was observed in 73 percent of patients. Long-term OS data showed an estimated 40 percent of patients were alive three years after starting treatment with KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab), with a median survival of 24.4 months (95% CI, 20.2-29.0). Median duration of response has not yet been reached (range, 1.3+ to 38.8+).
Data from KEYNOTE-001 served as the basis for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s accelerated approval of KEYTRUDA in September 2014. The label was subsequently updated to reflect data from the KEYNOTE-006 (phase 3) and KEYNOTE-002 (phase 2) trials, expanding the indication to include treatment of first-line advanced melanoma regardless of BRAF status. Today, KEYTRUDA is approved for the treatment of advanced melanoma in more than 50 countries, including the United States and throughout Europe.
The KEYTRUDA clinical development program includes more than 30 tumor types in more than 270 clinical trials, including more than 100 trials that combine KEYTRUDA with other cancer treatments.
Key Findings from the KEYNOTE-006 Study
KEYNOTE-006 is a global, open-label, randomized, pivotal, phase 3 study evaluating KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) compared to ipilimumab in patients with unresectable stage III or IV advanced melanoma with no more than one prior systemic therapy. The study randomized 834 patients to receive KEYTRUDA 10 mg/kg every three weeks, KEYTRUDA 10 mg/kg every two weeks, or four cycles of ipilimumab 3 mg/kg every three weeks. The co-primary endpoints were PFS and OS; secondary endpoints were ORR, duration of response and safety, with an exploratory analysis for health-related quality of life (QoL). Tumor response was assessed at week 12, then every 6 weeks thereafter per RECIST v1.1 by independent, central, blinded radiographic review and investigator-assessed, immune-related response criteria.
Based on data to be presented at ASCO, KEYTRUDA (10 mg/kg every two or three weeks) continued to provide superior OS, PFS and ORR compared to ipilimumab. Specifically, long-term OS data showed 55.1 percent and 55.3 percent of patients were alive two years after starting treatment with KEYTRUDA (every two weeks and three weeks, respectively) compared to 43 percent of patients receiving ipilimumab (hazard ratio: 0.68 [95% CI, 0.53-0.87; p=0.0008] and hazard ratio: 0.68 [95% CI, 0.53-0.86; p=0.0008], respectively). Median OS was not reached for KEYTRUDA; for ipilimumab, median OS was 16 months.
Additionally, an estimated 31.2 percent and 27.8 percent of patients receiving KEYTRUDA (every two weeks and three weeks, respectively) were alive and were disease progression-free at two years compared to 13.5 percent of patients receiving ipilimumab (hazard ratio: 0.61 [95% CI, 0.50-0.75; p<0.0001] for both). For patients receiving KEYTRUDA, ORR was 36.9 percent and 36.1 percent (every two weeks and three weeks, respectively) compared to 13.3 percent for patients receiving ipilimumab (p<0.0001 for both groups).
With longer follow-up, adverse events have remained consistent with previously reported safety data. There was one treatment-related death (due to sepsis) in the KEYTRUDA every two week group.
Key Findings from the KEYNOTE-001 Study
KEYNOTE-001 is a phase 1b multicenter, open-label, multi-cohort trial evaluating KEYTRUDA in various advanced cancers, including advanced melanoma. Patients in the melanoma cohorts received 2 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg of KEYTRUDA every three weeks or 10 mg/kg of KEYTRUDA every two weeks until unacceptable toxicity or disease progression. The major efficacy outcome measure was confirmed ORR as assessed by blinded independent central review using RECIST v1.1. Tumor response was assessed every 12 weeks. The secondary outcome measures included PFS, OS and duration of response.
The findings to be presented at ASCO include updated response rates and duration of response data, as well as three-year OS data from the 655 patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma and progression of disease. All patients were followed for at least two years, with some being followed for almost four years (with median follow-up duration of 32 months).
Of those patients who responded to treatment with KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab), a complete response (CR) was observed in 10 percent of patients. Among the 61 patients who stopped treatment once a complete response had occurred, the response duration ranged from 17+ to 44+ months (median duration not reached). Only two patients who had a complete response experienced disease progression after stopping treatment. In addition, long-term survival data showed that 40 percent of patients survived three years after starting treatment with KEYTRUDA (n=655).
With longer follow-up, adverse events have remained consistent with previously reported safety data. Immune-mediated treatment-related adverse events observed in this trial were hypothyroidism (9.6%), pneumonitis (4.3%), hyperthyroidism (2.3%), colitis (2.3%), uveitis (1.5%), hepatitis (0.9%), and nephritis (0.5%).
About KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Injection 100 mg
KEYTRUDA is a humanized monoclonal antibody that works by increasing the ability of the body’s immune system to help detect and fight tumor cells. KEYTRUDA blocks the interaction between PD-1 and its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, thereby activating T lymphocytes which may affect both tumor cells and healthy cells.
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma.
KEYTRUDA is also indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors express PD-L1 as determined by an FDA-approved test with disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy. Patients with EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations should have disease progression on FDA-approved therapy for these aberrations prior to receiving KEYTRUDA. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. An improvement in survival or disease-related symptoms has not yet been established. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.
KEYTRUDA is administered at a dose of 2 mg/kg as an intravenous infusion over 30 minutes every three weeks for the approved indications.
About Merck
For 125 years, Merck has been a global health care leader working to help the world be well. Merck is known as MSD outside the United States and Canada. Through our prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, and animal health products, we work with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to health care through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships.
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