Merck & Co wins race to market with first ever I-O and chemo dual therapy

11 May 2017

Merck & Co’s (NYSE: MRK) gamble on an early bid to bring the first ever dual chemo and immuno-oncology therapy to market has paid off.

The US Food and Drug Administration has granted approval to market Keytruda (pembrolizumab) as a first-line dual therapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.

Clinical trials showed that Keytruda plus chemotherapy drugs Alimta (pemetrexed) and carboplatin produced an improved response from patients. Alimta is manufactured by Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY).

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