German pharmaceutical company Merck (NYSE: MRK) has released data from real-world studies for its anti-PD-L1 biologic Bavencio (avelumab), used as a maintenance therapy in eligible patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (UC). Preliminary results indicate that the median overall survival (OS) in patients without progression after first-line chemotherapy was 21.3, 24.4, or 26.2 months from the start of Bavencio, varying by the study’s location.
Among patients who received next-line treatments, the median OS from the start of Bavencio was 31.3 months for those who were given a second-line antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) such as Pfizer’s (NYSE: PFE) Padcev (enfortumab vedotin) or Gilead’s (NASDAQ: GILD) Trodelvy (sacituzumab govitecan), and 16.7 months for those who received second-line chemotherapy.
A subgroup analysis of patients with high body mass index (BMI), identified as a risk factor for bladder cancer, showed a median OS of 20.8 months after starting Bavencio plus best supportive care (BSC), compared to 12.7 months for BSC alone.- Flcube.com
