Merck (MRK) continues to solidify its position in cancer treatment as its top-selling drug Keytruda delivers outstanding results in women’s cancers. At the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) conference, MRK highlighted the drug’s potential to improve outcomes in triple-negative breast, cervical cancers, and advanced melanoma.
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The latest findings underscore Keytruda’s growing importance as an immunotherapy drug, offering hope for patients with limited treatment options. As the drug continues to prove its effectiveness in various tumor types, its impact on cancer treatment is expected to grow significantly.
Merck Reveals Keytruda Study Results
At the conference, Merck revealed findings from the KeyNOTE-522 study, which assessed the effectiveness of Keytruda combined with chemotherapy in treating early-stage triple-negative breast cancer. Patients receiving the treatment experienced a 34% reduction in the risk of death compared to those given a placebo.
Additionally, another study showed Keytruda’s success in treating locally advanced cervical cancer. When used with chemotherapy and radiation, it reduced the risk of death by 33% over three years.
Merck also presented ten-year follow-up data from the KeyNOTE-006 trial, which assessed Keytruda’s impact on advanced melanoma. Patients treated with Keytruda had a 34% better overall survival rate compared to those on ipilimumab, a treatment that uses a person’s immune system to fight cancer.
Is MRK Stock a Buy?
Turning to Wall Street, MRK has a Strong Buy consensus rating based on 15 Buys and two Holds assigned in the last three months. At $140.33, the average Merck price target implies 21.12% upside potential. Shares of the company have declined about 9.13% in the past three months.
