The cancer develops in the lungs and chest wall. It often progresses rapidly, and the first-year survival rate is only 12%, the drugmaker said. In a trial comparing cisplatin and pemetrexed versus Keytruda, cisplatin and pemetrexed, the latter achieved better results. The Keytruda group saw a 62% objective response rate, and the chemotherapy-only cohort had a 38% ORR.
The risk of death fell by 21% for the Keytruda-chemotherapy patients.
Based on the results, the FDA granted the experimental drug regimen with a priority review, and the agency is expected to make a decision by Sept. 25.
