Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY)

[DewDiligence]

Keytruda/Yervoy_bombs_in_1L-NSCLC—numerically_worse_than_Keytruda_monotherapy:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/merck-presents-results-head-head-002300093.html

Results of the [KEYNOTE-598] study showed that the addition of ipilimumab to KEYTRUDA did not improve overall survival (OS) or progression-free survival (PFS) but added toxicity compared with KEYTRUDA monotherapy in these patients.

The median OS was 21.4 months for patients randomized to KEYTRUDA in combination with ipilimumab versus 21.9 months for those randomized to KEYTRUDA monotherapy (HR=1.08 [95% CI, 0.85-1.37]; p=0.74). Additionally, the median PFS was 8.2 months for patients in the combination arm versus 8.4 months for those in the KEYTRUDA monotherapy arm (HR=1.06 [95% CI, 0.86-1.30]; p=0.72).

A cynic might say that MRK had a vested interest in seeing KEYNOTE-598 fail insofar as BMY’s Opdivo/Yervoy is an approved combination in 1L-NSCLC (#msg-155664766, #msg-155857124, #msg-158381788).

Based on the above data, it seems unlikely that MRK will pursue further development of its in-house CTLA-4 agent.