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MSD Announces Positive Topline Results from Phase III Subcutaneous Keytruda Trial
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US-based Merck, Sharp & Dohme Inc., (MSD, NYSE: MRK) has released positive topline results from the pivotal Phase III MK-3475A-D77 trial. The study aimed to assess the noninferiority of subcutaneous administration of PD-1 inhibitor Keytruda (pembrolizumab) combined with berahyaluronidase alfa, a hyaluronidase variant developed by Alteogen Inc., in comparison to…
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LaNova Medicines Inks Licensing Deal with Sino Biopharmaceutical for Cancer Therapies in China
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Shanghai-based LaNova Medicines Ltd, a developer of cancer therapies, has announced another licensing deal, signing an agreement with compatriot firm Sino Biopharmaceutical Ltd (HKG: 1177) for the development and commercialization of LM-108 and other potential bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) and antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) in mainland China. The specifics of the…
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EMA’s CHMP Recommends Approval for MSD’s Keytruda Combo in Mesothelioma Treatment
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme Inc., (MSD; NYSE: MRK), a leading US pharmaceutical company, has announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has issued a positive opinion recommending the approval of its PD-1 inhibitor, Keytruda (pembrolizumab), in combination with pemetrexed plus…
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BioNTech Acquires Biotheus for $800 Million, Enhancing Oncology Pipeline
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BioNTech (NASDAQ: BNTX), the biotech giant recognized for its role in developing the COVID-19 vaccine, has acquired Biotheus for an upfront payment of $800 million, with additional milestone payments potentially reaching up to $150 million. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Zhuhai, China, Biotheus has developed eight clinical-stage products and…
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Merck KGaA Reports 3.8% Organic Growth in Q3 2024 Financials
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Merck KGaA (NYSE: MRK), the German multinational science and technology company, has released its financial results for the third quarter of 2024, reporting net sales of EUR 5.266 billion (USD 5.55 billion), marking an organic growth of 3.8%. The company’s performance reflects a steady increase in sales across its business…
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Merck Secures Exclusive Rights to LaNova’s PD-1/VEGF Bispecific Antibody LM-299
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US pharmaceutical giant Merck, Sharp & Dohme Inc. (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has announced a significant licensing agreement with Shanghai-based LaNova Medicines Ltd, a developer of innovative cancer therapies. This deal grants Merck exclusive global rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize LaNova’s LM-299, a novel PD-1/VEGF bispecific antibody (BsAb), marking a…
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MSD Reports 4% YOY Revenue Increase in Q3 2024, Led by Pharmaceutical Sector
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US pharmaceutical giant Merck, Sharp & Dohme Inc., (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has released its financial report for the third quarter of 2024, highlighting a 4% year-on-year (YOY) increase in revenues to USD 1.67 billion. The Pharmaceutical sector experienced a 5% YOY growth, reaching USD 14.943 billion, while the Animal Health…
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Merck and Moderna Launch Phase III Study for Individualized Neoantigen Therapy in Lung Cancer
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US pharmaceutical companies Merck, Sharp & Dohme Inc. (MSD; NYSE: MRK) and Moderna Inc. (NASDAQ: MRNA) have initiated the Phase III INTerpath-009 study to evaluate V940 (mRNA-4157), an investigational individualized neoantigen therapy (INT), in combination with Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, Keytruda (pembrolizumab). The study will focus on patients with resectable Stage…
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Merck’s Keytruda Gains Two Additional EU Indications for Gynecologic Cancer Treatment
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme Inc., known as MSD (NYSE: MRK), has received two additional indication approvals from the European Union for its immunotherapy drug Keytruda (pembrolizumab), increasing the total number of approved uses in the region to 30. The PD-1 inhibitor is now approved for use in combination with carboplatin…
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Merck Acquires Modifi Biosciences to Target DNA Repair Defects in Cancer Therapies
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme Inc. (MSD; NYSE: MRK), a leading U.S. pharmaceutical company, has bolstered its oncology pipeline through the acquisition of Modifi Biosciences, Inc., a biotechnology company specializing in direct DNA modification-enabled cancer therapeutics. This strategic move provides MSD with preclinical compounds aimed at exploiting DNA repair defects in…
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Merck KGaA’s Pergoveris Treatment Expands Access to Advanced Reproductive Care in Greater Bay Area
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Merck KGaA (MRK, NYSE: MRK) , a leading science and technology company based in Germany, has announced the availability of its ovulation-stimulating treatment Pergoveris in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area. The treatment, which combines recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone (r-hFSH) and recombinant human luteinizing hormone (r-hLH), has been approved…
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Merck’s Keytruda Meets Primary Endpoint in Phase III Study for Head and Neck Cancer
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US pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK, NYSE: MRK) has announced that the Phase III KEYNOTE-689 study for its PD-1 inhibitor Keytruda (pembrolizumab) has met its primary endpoint of event-free survival (EFS) in patients newly diagnosed with stage III or IVA, resected, locally advanced head and neck squamous cell…
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FDA Panel Weighs in on Narrowing Use of PD-1 Inhibitors in Stomach and Esophageal Cancers
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The U.S. FDA’s Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (ODAC) convened on September 26 to scrutinize the application of PD-1 inhibitors in oncology, particularly focusing on Bristol Myers Squibb’s (NYSE: BMY) Opdivo (nivolumab) and Merck, Sharp & Dohme’s (NYSE: MRK) Keytruda (pembrolizumab). The committee evaluated the risk-benefit profile of these drugs for…
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Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Reports 32.2% Revenue Growth in 2024 H1, Driven by MSD Partnership
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Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd (HKG: 6990) has announced its financial results for the first half of 2024, reporting a 32.2% year-on-year (YOY) increase in revenues to RMB 1.383 billion, which includes a USD 90 million cooperation payment from its U.S. partner Merck, Sharp & Dohme Inc. (MSD; NYSE: MRK),.…
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MSD’s Keytruda Secures FDA Approval for First-Line Mesothelioma Treatment in Combination with Chemotherapy
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme Inc. (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new indication for its programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitor, Keytruda (pembrolizumab). The approval allows for the use of Keytruda in combination with pemetrexed and platinum chemotherapy as a first-line treatment…
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MSD and Daiichi Sankyo’s Patritumab Deruxtecan Achieves Milestone in Phase III Lung Cancer Trial
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Global healthcare leaders Merck, Sharp & Dohme Inc.(MSD; NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the US and Canada, and Daiichi Sankyo (TYO: 4568) have announced that their jointly developed anti-HER3 antibody drug conjugate (ADC), patritumab deruxtecan, has demonstrated a significant progression-free survival (PFS) benefit in the Phase III HERTHENA-Lung02 trial.…
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Merck’s Keytruda Gains Expanded Approval for First-Line Melanoma Treatment in China
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Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MRK), a leading US pharmaceutical company, has announced that its programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitor, Keytruda (pembrolizumab), has received expanded approval in China. The updated approval allows the drug’s package insert to be revised to include “pembrolizumab is suitable for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic…
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Merck and Daiichi Sankyo’s HER3-DXd ADC Patritumab Deruxtecan Passes Phase 3 Trial After FDA Rejection
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Merck (NYSE: MRK) and Daiichi Sankyo (TYO: 4568) announced that their antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) patritumab deruxtecan (HER3-DXd) has passed Phase 3 HERTHENA-Lung 02 study, months after the drug was rejected by the U.S. FDA due to manufacturing issues following its presentation at this year’s ESMO conference. The companies will discuss…
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Merck and Daiichi Sankyo’s Ifinatamab Deruxtecan Shows Promising Results in Phase II ES-SCLC Trial
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme Inc. (MSD, NYSE: MRK), a leading U.S. pharmaceutical company, and its co-development partner Daiichi Sankyo (TYO: 4568), have announced preliminary data from a Phase II clinical trial for the investigational B7-H3-directed antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) ifinatamab deruxtecan. The trial has identified a recommended dosage of 12mg/kg for…
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European Commission Approves Merck’s Keytruda-Padcev Combo for First-Line Urothelial Carcinoma Treatment
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Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE: MRK), a global healthcare leader based in the United States, has announced that the European Commission (EC) has granted approval for the use of Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in combination with Padcev (enfortumab vedotin) as a first-line treatment for adults with unresectable or metastatic urothelial carcinoma. This…
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Merck Ends Phase III Keytruda Studies in NSCLC and cSCC Due to Insufficient Results
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US-based Merck, Sharp & Dohme Inc. (NYSE: MRK) announced the discontinuation of two Phase III trials evaluating its programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitor Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in new indications, due to insufficient efficacy. The decisions to halt the trials were made following recommendations from their respective independent data monitoring committees. The trials…
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Sichuan Kelun Pharmaceutical’s H1 2024 Report Highlights MSD Collaboration Milestones
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CHENGDU—Sichuan Kelun Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd (SHE: 002422) has released its financial report for the first half of 2024, detailing significant updates on its collaboration with US pharmaceutical giant Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK). The partnership, focused on the co-development of antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), has seen substantial progress…
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MSD to Acquire Curon Biopharmaceutical’s CD3 x CD19 Bispecific Antibody CN201 in USD 1.3 Billion Deal
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has announced a strategic acquisition agreement with Shanghai-based biotech firm Curon Biopharmaceutical. Under the terms of the deal, MSD will fully acquire CN201, a cutting-edge CD3 x CD19-targeted T-cell-engager bispecific antibody (BsAb). The transaction includes an upfront payment of USD 700 million, with…
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Daiichi Sankyo and MSD Broaden Partnership to Co-Develop T-Cell Engager MK-6079
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Daiichi Sankyo (TYO: 4568), a Japanese pharmaceutical company, has announced an expansion of its strategic partnership with U.S.-based Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) to include global co-development of an antibody drug conjugate (ADC). This extension incorporates a new T-cell engager, MK-6079, which MSD acquired as part of its…
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Merck’s Q2 2024 Earnings Miss Estimates as China Market Downturn Surprises
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme Inc. (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has reported its financial results for the second quarter of 2024, with global revenues reaching USD 16.1 billion, marking an 11% increase year-on-year when excluding currency impacts. Despite this growth, the company’s stock price declined by 9.81% as investors reacted to the…
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Roche’s Tiragolumab Misses Primary Endpoints in NSCLC Trial, Study Halted
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Roche (SWX: ROG; SWX: RO; OTCMKTS: RHHBY), the Swiss pharmaceutical giant, has announced that a Phase II/III clinical trial for its TIGIT-targeted antibody tiragolumab, designed for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), did not outperform Keytruda (pembrolizumab), a PD-1 inhibitor. The trial, known as SKYSCRAPER-06, was evaluating the efficacy of tiragolumab…
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Merck’s HER3-Targeted ADC Patritumab Deruxtecan Faces FDA Complete Response Letter
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme Inc. (NYSE: MRK), a leading U.S. pharmaceutical company, has announced that it has received a Complete Response Letter (CRL) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the Biologics License Application (BLA) for patritumab deruxtecan, a first-in-class HER3-targeted antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) discovered by Daiichi Sankyo…
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Merck KGaA’s Xevinapant Misses Primary Endpoint in Phase III Head and Neck Cancer Trial
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Merck KGaA (NYSE: MRK), a leading German pharmaceutical company, has encountered a setback in the Phase III clinical trial for xevinapant, a drug licensed from Debiopharm in a deal valued at over USD 1 billion in 2021. The drug, which combines with chemoradiotherapy (CRT), was being investigated in the TrilynX…
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MSD’s Capvaxive Vaccine Targets 21 Serotypes of Streptococcus Pneumoniae
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme Inc. (MSD; NYSE: MRK), a leading U.S. pharmaceutical company, has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval for Capvaxive (Pneumococcal 21-valent conjugate vaccine). The vaccine is indicated to prevent invasive disease caused by a range of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes in adults,…
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MSD’s Keytruda Secures FDA Approval for Advanced or Recurrent Endometrial Carcinoma
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted an additional indication for its programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitor Keytruda (pembrolizumab). The drug is now approved for use in combination with chemotherapy for adults with primary advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma,…
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MSD Makes Undisclosed Equity Investment in Cancer Diagnostics Firm DELFI Diagnostics
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has announced an equity investment into DELFI Diagnostics, a U.S.-based developer of blood-based cancer tests, without disclosing the financial terms. The investment will enable DELFI to further develop its fragmentomics and artificial intelligence technologies, enhancing early cancer detection and treatment monitoring. DELFI’s proprietary…
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MSD China’s Vaccine Head Tang Xiaochun Departs; HutchMed Welcomes MSD’s Yuan Zezhi as Executive Vice-President
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has announced that Tang Xiaochun, who served as the head of vaccine business and assistant vice-president at MSD China, has left the company. Tang initially joined MSD China in 2018 as the executive director of the company’s oncology medical affairs department. During his…
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MSD to Acquire Ophthalmology Specialist Eyebiotech in a Deal Valued Up to USD 3 Billion
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has entered into an agreement to acquire UK-based ophthalmology specialist Eyebiotech Limited for an upfront payment of USD 1.3 billion, plus potential milestone payments of up to USD 1.7 billion. The deal is anticipated to be finalized in the third quarter of 2024,…
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MSD Partners with Dragonfly Therapeutics to Combine Keytruda with NK Cell Engager in Cancer Treatment
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK), the producer of the leading checkpoint inhibitor Keytruda (pembrolizumab), has entered into a collaborative agreement with Dragonfly Therapeutics for the combination therapy of Keytruda and Dragonfly’s tri-specific natural killer (NK) cell engager, DF9001. The partnership aims to explore treatment options for advanced solid…
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MilliporeSigma Avoids Prosecution in Biochemical Diversion Case: A DoJ First
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Merck KGaA (NYSE: MRK)’s US life sciences division, MilliporeSigma, has been at the center of a US Department of Justice (DoJ) investigation into the fraudulent sale and export of biochemicals, including cocaine and fentanyl, to China. The scheme, which lasted from July 2016 until its discovery in May 2023, involved…
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MSD Discontinues Vibostolimab and Keytruda Combo Trial in High-Risk Melanoma
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has announced its decision to cease development of the anti-TIGIT antibody vibostolimab in combination with its anti-PD-1 drug Keytruda (pembrolizumab) as an adjuvant treatment for resected high-risk melanoma. This strategic move follows an interim analysis that failed to meet the primary endpoint of…
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MSD’s Keytruda Adjuvant Treatment for High-Risk Endometrial Cancer Fails to Meet Primary Endpoint
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has announced that a late-stage trial for its blockbuster drug Keytruda (pembrolizumab) as an adjuvant treatment in newly diagnosed, high-risk endometrial cancer failed to meet the primary endpoint of disease-free survival (DFS). Although the analysis of the co-primary endpoint of overall survival (OS)…
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MSD Reports USD 15.8 Billion in Q1 2024 Sales, Marked by 11% YOY Growth Excluding Forex Impact
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has released its financial report for the first quarter of 2024, announcing sales of USD 15.8 billion, an increase of 11% year-on-year (YOY) excluding the impact of foreign exchange rates. The pharmaceutical division contributed USD 14.0 billion to the top line, with a…
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MSD Partners with Hanmi Pharmaceutical to Develop Combination Therapy for Solid Tumors
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has announced a partnership with South Korea’s Hanmi Pharmaceutical (KRX: 128940) to develop a combination therapy using MSD’s top-selling anti-PD-1 therapy Keytruda (pembrolizumab) and Hanmi’s bispecific antibody (BsAb) BH3120 for the treatment of progressive or metastatic solid tumors. The financial details of the…
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MSD Strikes Deal with GV20 Therapeutics to Test Anti-PD-1 Combo in Solid Tumor Therapies
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK), a global healthcare leader, has entered into a strategic collaboration with GV20 Therapeutics, a biopharmaceutical company specializing in antibody therapeutics with operations in both China and the U.S. The partnership aims to combine GV20’s groundbreaking IGSF8-targeted biologic, GV20-0251, with MSD’s best-selling anti-PD-1 therapy,…
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Merck Sharp & Dohme Acquires Abceutics for Next-Generation ADC Technology
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Global healthcare leader Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD) (NYSE: MRK) has secured a strategic acquisition of Abceutics, a preclinical biopharmaceutical startup focused on optimizing antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). The financial details of the transaction remain undisclosed. Abceutics has developed a series of payload-binding selectivity enhancers (PBSEs) designed to increase the safety…
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MSD’s Phase III Trial of Keytruda Plus Lynparza Misses Primary Endpoints in NSCLC
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has announced an unfavorable outcome for a Phase III trial combining Keytruda (pembrolizumab) and Lynparza (olaparib) in the first-line treatment of metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study, which aimed to evaluate the efficacy of this combination therapy, was halted after…
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Merck Plans Broader HPV Vaccine Development, Targeting African and Asian Populations
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has unveiled plans to develop a multi-valent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine aimed at providing broader protection than the currently approved 9-valent Gardasil 9. This new candidate will include additional virus-like particles (VLPs) targeting HPV types that disproportionately affect populations in Africa and Asia,…
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MSD Strikes Deal with Pearl Bio to Tap into Synthetic Biology for Oncology Targets
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has entered into a strategic agreement with Pearl Bio, a synthetic biology company, to leverage Pearl’s genomically recoded organisms (GROs) platform. This platform is designed for the discovery and development of biologic molecules that incorporate non-standard amino acids, enabling the targeting of previously…
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MSD Partners with IDEAYA Biosciences to Develop Combination Therapy for Endometrial Cancer
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has announced a partnership with IDEAYA Biosciences (NASDAQ: IDYA), a US-based biotechnology company, to clinically develop the combination of MSD’s top-selling anti-PD-1 therapy Keytruda (pembrolizumab) with IDEAYA’s potential first-in-class poly (ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) inhibitor IDE161. The collaboration focuses on treating microsatellite instability-high (MSI-high)…
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Gilead and MSD Report Positive Interim Data for Once-Weekly HIV Treatment in Phase II Trial
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Gilead Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: GILD) and Merck & Co., Inc., known as MSD (NYSE: MRK), have this week unveiled preliminary findings from a Phase II clinical trial of their investigational antiretroviral combination therapy, islatravir plus lenacapavir, as a potential once-weekly oral treatment for HIV/AIDS. Despite the primary endpoint being influenced…
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Merck Teams Up with C4 Therapeutics for Targeted Protein Degraders in Oncology
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Merck (NYSE: MRK), a Germany-headquartered science and technology company, has entered into a partnership with C4 Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CCCC), a U.S.-based protein degradation, to discover two targeted protein degraders aimed at oncogenic proteins of interest. Merck will be responsible for funding the research expenses of the programs and has agreed…
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Kelun-Biotech Launches Clinical Trials for SKB264, Triggering $75 Million Milestone Payment from MSD
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Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (HKG: 6990) has announced the initiation of clinical trials for SKB264 (MK-2870), an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) co-developed with Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD, NYSE: MRK) for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and endometrial carcinoma (EC). This development triggers a clinical milestone payment…
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MSD’s Belzutifan and Sperogenix’s Vamorolone Targeted for Priority Review by China’s CDE
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The Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) website has indicated that Merck, Sharp & Dohme’s (MSD; NYSE: MRK) belzutifan and Sperogenix Therapeutics Ltd’s vamorolone are on track to receive priority review statuses in China. Belzutifan, which targets von Hippel Lindau (VHL) disease-associated renal cell carcinoma (RCC), central nervous system (CNS) hemangioblastoma,…
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Merck’s Keytruda Under Priority Review for New Indication in Endometrial Carcinoma
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This week, the U.S. FDA granted priority review status to an indication extension filing from Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) for its blockbuster drug Keytruda (pembrolizumab), seeking approval as a treatment for primary advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma, the most prevalent gynecological cancer. The FDA anticipates reaching a…
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MSD’s Keytruda Secures 13th Indication Approval in China for Biliary Carcinoma Treatment
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK), a leading US pharmaceutical company, has announced that its drug Keytruda (pembrolizumab) has received approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in China for a new indication. The drug is now approved as a first-line treatment for locally advanced or metastatic biliary…
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Merck KGaA’s Tepmetko Launches in China, Expanding Access to MET Inhibitor for Lung Cancer Patients
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Merck KGaA (NYSE: MRK), a leading German science and technology company, has announced the commercial launch of its targeted lung cancer therapy, Tepmetko (tepotinib), in China. This marks a significant milestone as multiple hospitals across the country have begun writing the first prescriptions for this MET inhibitor. Tepmetko, which has…
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Merck Q4 Sales Grow 6% YOY, Driven by Pharmaceutical Segment and HPV Vaccine Demand
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK), a leading US pharmaceutical company, has released its financial report for the fourth quarter and full year of 2023. In Q4, MSD generated USD 14.6 billion in sales, marking a 6% year-on-year increase, with growth expanding to 13% when excluding the impacts from…
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MSD Partners with Variational AI to Harness Generative AI for Drug Discovery
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has embarked on a collaborative project with Canadian company Variational AI to leverage the latter’s generative AI-powered model for drug discovery initiatives. Through this partnership, MSD will have early access to Variational AI’s platform, which utilizes text prompts to generate novel small molecules…
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MSD’s Keytruda Combines with PharmAbcine’s PMC-309 in Phase Ia/b Solid Tumor Trial
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has announced that its blockbuster anti-PD-1 drug Keytruda (pembrolizumab) has entered a Phase Ia/b trial in combination with South Korea-based PharmAbcine’s (KOSDAQ: 208340) VISTA-inhibiting biologic PMC-309 for the treatment of advanced or metastatic solid tumors. The study aims to determine the recommended dose,…
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Merck’s Bavencio Shows Promising Survival Data in Real-World Urothelial Carcinoma Studies
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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…
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Gilead’s Trodelvy Misses Primary Endpoint in Late-Stage NSCLC Trial
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Gilead Sciences (NASDAQ: GILD) has announced that a late-stage trial for its antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) Trodelvy (sacituzumab govitecan) in metastatic or advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) did not meet its primary endpoint of overall survival (OS) in patients who had previously received treatment for metastatic NSCLC. Despite this setback,…
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MSD’s Keytruda Gains FDA Approval for Advanced Cervical Cancer Treatment
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has received regulatory approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the use of its anti-PD-1 drug Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in combination with chemoradiotherapy for the treatment of FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) 2014 stage III-IVA cervical cancer. This marks…
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C4 Therapeutics Outlines 2024 Focus Amid 30% Workforce Reduction, Prioritizes Key Oncology Trials
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C4 Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CCCC), a leader in protein degradation, announced this week its strategic focus for 2024, which includes a significant reduction of 30% in its workforce. The U.S.-based company will prioritize ongoing Phase I/II trials for CFT7455 and CFT1946, targeting relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (r/rMM) and BRAF V600X-mutant solid tumors,…
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MSD’s Gardasil 9 Receives NMPA Approval for Two-Dose Schedule in Younger Females
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK), a prominent pharmaceutical company in the U.S., has announced that it has received marketing approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for its recombinant human papillomavirus (HPV) 9-valent vaccine, Gardasil 9. The vaccine is now approved for a two-dose vaccination schedule (0,…
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MSD to Acquire Harpoon Therapeutics for USD 680 Million, Expanding Its Oncology Pipeline
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK), a leading U.S. pharmaceutical company, has announced its intention to acquire Harpoon Therapeutics (NASDAQ: HARP) for approximately USD 680 million. The acquisition is expected to be completed in the first half of 2024, subject to approval by Harpoon’s stockholders and the fulfillment of…
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MSD Advances Four Oncology Candidates to Late-Stage Trials, Including Partnerships with Kelun-Biotech and Orion
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has announced significant progress in its oncology pipeline with the advancement of four candidates to late-stage trials that are currently enrolling participants. The first molecule is the LSD1 inhibitor bomedemstat, which is being developed for the treatment of essential thrombocythemia (ET). Nemtabrutinib, a…
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Merck In-Licenses Inspirna’s Ompenaclid for Advanced Colorectal Cancer, Eyes Market Potential
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Germany-based Merck (NYSE: MRK) has in-licensed the potential first-in-class candidate ompenaclid from U.S. firm Inspirna, aimed at inhibiting the creatine transport channel SLC6A8. The drug is currently undergoing Phase II trials for RAS-mutated advanced or metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The agreement also encompasses additional follow-on compounds targeting SLC6A8. In return…
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FDA Grants Priority Review to MSD and Daiichi Sankyo’s ADC for Lung Cancer
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The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted under priority review a filing from Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) and Daiichi Sankyo (TYO: 4568) for their jointly developed antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) patritumab deruxtecan. The treatment is intended for patients with locally advanced or metastatic EGFR-mutated non-small cell…
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FDA Rejects MSD’s Gefapixant for Chronic Cough Treatment Over Efficacy Concerns
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The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has declined to approve a filing from Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) for its P2X3 receptor antagonist, gefapixant, which was being considered as a treatment for refractory chronic cough (RCC) or unexplained chronic cough (UCC) in adults. The rejection was due…
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MSD Partners with Owkin to Develop MSI-H Biomarker Screening for Cancers
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US pharmaceutical company Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has entered into a partnership with French firm Owkin to develop and commercialize a pre-screening procedure for identifying the microsatellite instability- (MSI) H biomarker in various cancers. The initiative aims to test for MSI-H in endometrial, gastric, small intestinal, and…
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European Commission Expands Keytruda Indications for Advanced Cancer Treatments
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The European Commission (EC) has granted Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) additional indications for its leading anti-PD-1 therapy, Keytruda (pembrolizumab), approving its use as a first-line treatment in combination with chemotherapy for locally advanced unresectable or metastatic biliary tract carcinoma (BTC) and HER2-negative gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ)…
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Keytruda Gains 12th Indication Approval in China for HER2-Negative Gastric Cancer
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US pharmaceutical giant Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has announced that its immunotherapy drug Keytruda (pembrolizumab) has received approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in China for a new indication. The drug is now approved as a first-line treatment for locally advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-negative…
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FDA Approves Pfizer-Astellas-MSD Combo Therapy for Advanced Urothelial Cancer
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Pfizer (NYSE: PFE), Astellas (TYO: 4503), and Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) have secured U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for their combination therapy consisting of Padcev (enfortumab vedotin) and Keytruda (pembrolizumab) for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer (la/mUC). The FDA’s decision is…
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MSD’s Welireg Gains FDA Approval for Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma
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The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted an indication extension approval for Merck, Sharp & Dohme’s (MSD; NYSE: MRK) oral drug Welireg (belzutifan), expanding its use as a therapy for advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in adults who have previously received a PD-1/L1 inhibitor and a VEGF tyrosine…
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MSD Halts Phase III Trial of Keytruda Combo in NSCLC After Missing Primary Endpoints
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has announced the discontinuation of a Phase III trial for its anti-PD-1 therapy Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in combination with AstraZeneca’s (AZ; NASDAQ: AZN) co-developed PARP inhibitor Lynparza (olaparib) for metastatic squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The decision follows the trial’s failure to meet…
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MSD to Migrate IT Systems to AWS, Aiming for Faster Drug Discovery and Clinical Trials
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has announced plans to transition a significant portion of its IT infrastructure to Amazon Web Services (AWS), a move aimed at enhancing efficiency in drug discovery and clinical trial development. This multiyear initiative, revealed by parent company Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) this week, will…
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Merck’s V116 Pneumococcal Vaccine Shows Promising Data Against Pfizer’s Prevnar 20
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has unveiled new data from a late-stage trial of its 21-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, V116, confirming earlier topline results. The data, released this week, highlights the vaccine’s immunogenicity, tolerability, and safety in comparison to Pfizer’s (NYSE: PFE) 20-valent Prevnar 20/Apexxnar in unvaccinated adults.…
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Coherus Biosciences Sets Price for PD-1 Inhibitor Loqtorzi at $8,892.03, Offering 20% Discount Compared to Keytruda
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Coherus Biosciences Inc. (NASDAQ: CHRS) announced yesterday in an SEC filing the wholesale price for its newly launched PD-1 inhibitor, Loqtorzi (toripalimab), in the U.S. market. The drug, co-developed under license from Shanghai Junshi Biosciences Co., Ltd. (HKG: 1877; SHA: 688180), will retail at $8,892.03 per single-use vial. Loqtorzi received…
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MSD to Acquire Caraway Therapeutics for USD 610 Million to Boost Neurodegenerative Disease Portfolio
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has announced an agreement to purchase Caraway Therapeutics, a US-based pre-clinical company, for a potential total of USD 610 million, which includes upfront and milestone payments. This acquisition will enhance MSD’s portfolio with a range of small-molecule candidates targeting neurodegenerative and rare diseases.…
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Aurobindo Pharma’s China Plant Secures EU GMP Approval, Eyes Revenue Generation
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India-based Aurobindo Pharma reportedly received EU GMP approval for its China-based manufacturing plant last week, as reported by The Hindu Times. The site is anticipated to start generating revenues from the end of Q4 of the company’s fiscal year (FY) 2024 or early in Q1 FY 2025. Manufacturing and Market…
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CIIE 2023: Danaher, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Merck, J&J, BeiGene, and Fosun Pharma Announce China Partnerships
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The 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) held in Shanghai this week has been a platform for multiple companies to announce their strategic partnerships in China. Among the notable participants are Danaher (NYSE: DHR), Boehringer-Ingelheim (BI), Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD, NYSE: MRK), Johnson & Johnson (J&J, NYSE: JNJ), BeiGene…
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Seagen’s Adcetris Combo with Keytruda Shows Promising Results in Phase II Study
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Seagen (NASDAQ: SGEN), currently in the process of being acquired by Pfizer (NYSE: PFE), has released the results of a Phase II study combining its antibody drug conjugate (ADC) Adcetris (brentuximab vedotin) with Merck, Sharp & Dohme’s (MSD; NYSE: MRK) anti-PD-1 therapy Keytruda (pembrolizumab). The study focused on patients with…
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Merck KGaA and Jiangsu Hengrui Ink Strategic Collaboration Deal for Next-Gen PARP1 Inhibitor
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Germany-based Merck KGaA (NYSE: MRK) has announced the signing of a strategic collaboration deal with China’s Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine Co., Ltd (SHA: 600276). This agreement grants Merck development, manufacturing, and commercial rights to the next-generation PARP1 inhibitor HRS-1167 for all global territories outside of China. Additionally, Merck has an option…
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Merck Reports 9% Global Sales Growth in Q3 2023, Boosted by Keytruda and Gardasil
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US-based pharmaceutical giant Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD, NYSE: MRK) has reported a robust 9% year-on-year (YOY) increase in global sales for Q3 2023, reaching USD 15.9 billion. This strong performance has led the firm to raise its full-year sales forecast to a range of USD 59.7 billion to USD…
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MSD Halts Phase II Trials for Glutamate Modulator MK-1942 in Alzheimer’s and Depression
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has announced the discontinuation of two Phase II trials evaluating the efficacy of its glutamate modulator MK-1942 in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (MDD). The decision comes after an unblinded data analysis indicated potential safety concerns. Trial…
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MSD Collaborates with Daiichi Sankyo on Development of Innovative ADC Candidates
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has announced a strategic collaboration agreement with Japan-based Daiichi Sankyo (TYO: 4568) focused on the development and commercialization of three potential first-in-class deruxtecan-based antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) candidates. This partnership aims to advance innovative treatments for various types of cancer. ADC Candidates and Development…
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MSD Partners with Phanes Therapeutics for Innovative Cancer Combo Therapy
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Global pharmaceutical leader Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has announced a strategic partnership with US-based biotechnology firm Phanes Therapeutics to develop a novel combination therapy. The collaboration will see MSD’s anti-PD-1 blockbuster Keytruda (pembrolizumab) paired with Phanes’s first-in-class CD47×claudin 18.2 drug PT886, targeting claudin 18.2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal…
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MSD’s Keytruda Achieves Primary Endpoint in Late-Stage NSCLC Trial
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has announced that a late-stage trial for its anti-PD-1 drug Keytruda (pembrolizumab) has successfully met the primary endpoint of statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in overall survival (OS) in patients with resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The trial evaluated Keytruda as…
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MSD’s Keytruda Meets Endpoints in Urothelial Carcinoma Trial but Misses in NSCLC Study
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK), a leading global pharmaceutical company, last week released clinical data from separate late-stage studies for its anti-PD-1 biologic, Keytruda (pembrolizumab), in combination with other oncology therapies from different partners. The results presented a mixed picture of success and challenges in the field of…
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Merck Forges Partnerships with BenevolentAI and Exscientia for Precision Drug Discovery
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German pharmaceutical company Merck (NYSE: MRK) has announced two separate strategic collaborations with UK-based artificial intelligence-driven precision drug design companies BenevolentAI (AMS: BAI) and Exscientia (NASDAQ: EXAI). These partnerships aim to discover potential first-in-class and best-in-class small-molecule therapies in the fields of oncology, neurology, and immunology. Terms of Collaboration and…
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FDA Grants Priority Review to MSD’s Welireg for Advanced RCC Indication Extension
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The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted priority review status to an indication extension application filed by Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) for its oral HIF-2α inhibitor Welireg (belzutifan). The application seeks approval for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in adults who have…
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EMA’s CHMP Recommends Approval of Keytruda as Adjuvant NSCLC Treatment
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The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended the approval of Merck, Sharp & Dohme’s (MSD; NYSE: MRK) anti-PD-1 therapy, Keytruda (pembrolizumab), as an adjuvant treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in adults who are at a high risk of…
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MSD’s Sotatercept Demonstrates Positive Interim Results in Phase III PAH Studies
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Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD; NYSE: MRK) has presented interim data from Phase III and extension studies for its potential first-in-class biologic sotatercept, which is being investigated for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The late-stage trial indicated that the activin signaling inhibitor led to a reduction in right…
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Gilead’s Trodelvy Combo with MSD’s Keytruda Shows Promise in NSCLC Phase II Trial
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Gilead (NASDAQ: GILD) has announced interim data from a Phase II trial assessing the antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) Trodelvy (sacituzumab govitecan) in combination with Merck, Sharp & Dohme’s (MSD; NYSE: MRK) anti-PD-1 Keytruda (pembrolizumab) for first-line advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) without actionable genomic alterations. The interim results…
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Merck & Co. Becomes First Multinational to Register Unit in Hainan’s Lecheng Pilot Zone
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US pharmaceutical major Merck, Sharp & Dohme Inc., (MSD, NYSE: MRK) has officially registered a unit in the Lecheng pilot zone of Boao, Hainan province, marking a significant milestone as the first multinational company to obtain a business license in the city. Hainan Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone’s…
