A rise in patient deaths in the Keytruda arms of two late-stage multiple myeloma studies suggests that Merck & Co (NYSE:MRK) is paying the price for being first. The company has been at the forefront of the immuno-oncology push into this therapy area, and its pivotal program is more advanced than competitors'.
A recent investigation by EP Vantage into the explosion of PD-(NYSE:L)1 combination trials uncovered 18 active studies in multiple myeloma, 10 of which are being conducted by big pharma groups. Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY) and Celgene (NASDAQ:CELG) - which partnered with Astrazeneca (NYSE:AZN) in hematological cancers - are both recruiting patients at full throttle, and are no doubt watching closely to see how this safety signal evolves (see tables below).
