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Merck's Keytruda Reaches Blockbuster Status, But Still Lags In Lung Cancer

 
• By Joseph Haas
  
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Merck’s PD-1 inhibitor Keytruda brought in $1.4bn in 2016 and appears poised to take advantage of first-mover status among immuno-oncology agents in first-line NSCLC.

T-cell

Merck & Co. Inc.'s Keytruda (pembrolizumab) finally reached the blockbuster benchmark in 2016 and while it still tails Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.’s PD-1 inhibitor Opdivo, there are signs Merck’s anti-PD-1 cancer immunotherapy is positioned to dominate in the key first-line non-small cell lung cancer setting thanks to first-mover advantage and what one analyst called smart development and filing strategies.

The pharma reported flat overall revenues for fourth quarter 2016 on Feb. 2, but called Keytruda a key growth product...

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