Merck's China-sourced ADC shows survival benefit in Phase 3 endometrial cancer trial

Merck & Co., in partnership with Chinese biotech Kelun-Biotech, reported that its experimental antibody-drug conjugate sacituzumab tirumotecan (Sac-TMT) met its primary endpoint in a global Phase 3 trial for endometrial cancer.

The trial showed patients receiving Sac-TMT lived longer overall and had longer progression-free survival compared with standard chemotherapy, according to an early data review.

The result follows earlier positive data from a lung-cancer study conducted in China, which Kelun plans to submit to Chinese regulators for approval.

Merck views Sac-TMT as a key component of its strategy to sustain growth as its flagship immunotherapy Keytruda approaches patent expiry later this decade, targeting a potential $70 billion annual sales goal.