Merck-Kelun Drug Reduced Lung Cancer Progression Risk by 65 Percent in Trial

A type of targeted chemotherapy developed by China-based Kelun-Biotech and licensed to Merck cut the risk of tumor progression by 65 percent in patients with lung cancer, according to Phase 3 study results reported Thursday. A preliminary survival benefit favoring the Kelun-Merck drug, called sacituzumab tirumotecan, or sac-TMT, was also seen in the study, but will require longer follow-up to confirm.

The study, conducted in China, is the first successful combination of an antibody-drug conjugate with a PD-1-targeted immunotherapy in patients with advanced but previously untreated non-small cell lung cancer. Researchers presented the findings in an abstract ahead of the annual meeting of oncology specialists.