Merck and Kelun sac-TMT endometrial cancer data unveiled at ESMO

Adam Feuerstein is a senior writer and biotech columnist, reporting on the crossroads of drug development, business, Wall Street, and biotechnology. He is also a co-host of the weekly biotech podcast The Readout Loud and author of the newsletter Adam’s Biotech Scorecard. You can reach Adam on Signal at stataf.54.

MADRID — A type of targeted chemotherapy developed by Merck and China’s Kelun-Biotech cut by one-third the risk of death in patients with advanced endometrial cancer, a common gynecological cancer, according to randomized Phase 3 study results presented Monday.

The drug, called sacituzumab tirumotecan, or sac-TMT, has already shown survival-extending benefits for patients across multiple cancer types in studies conducted by Kelun in China, where it’s approved.

Merck is conducting 18 global Phase 3 studies of sac-TMT, including 10 studies in women’s cancers, to support approvals in the U.S., Europe, and elsewhere outside China. The drug plays a crucial role in Merck’s efforts to replace revenue that will be lost when Keytruda, its blockbuster immunotherapy, loses patent protection in 2028.

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