Update on phase III LEAP-001 trial evaluating Keytruda (pembrolizumab) + Lenvima (lenvatinib) as first-line treatment for advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma – Merck Inc + Eisai

Merck Inc., known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, and Eisai announced that the Phase III LEAP-001 trial evaluating Keytruda, Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, plus Lenvima, the orally available multiple receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor discovered by Eisai, did not meet its dual primary endpoints of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma whose disease is mismatch repair proficient (pMMR)/not microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR)/MSI-H.

At the final analysis, Keytruda plus Lenvima did not improve OS or PFS sufficiently to meet the study’s prespecified statistical criteria in the first-line treatment of certain patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma versus a standard of care, platinum-based chemotherapy doublet (carboplatin plus paclitaxel). The safety profile of Keytruda plus Lenvima was consistent with that observed in previously reported studies evaluating the combination. A full evaluation of the data from this study is ongoing. The companies will work with investigators to share the results with the scientific community.

“We remain confident in the proven benefit of Keytruda plus Lenvima for the treatment of appropriate patients with certain types of previously treated advanced endometrial carcinoma based on results from the KEYNOTE-775/Study 309 trial and will continue to research the Keytruda plus Lenvima combination in patients with other types of difficult-to-treat cancers,” said Dr. Gregory Lubiniecki, Vice President, Global Clinical Development, Merck Research Laboratories. “We are disappointed that the LEAP-001 trial did not reach its primary endpoints, as we had hoped to bring another potential treatment option to patients when first diagnosed with certain types of advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma.”

“Results from the LEAP-001 trial underscore the challenges of treating patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma in the first-line setting,” said Dr. Corina Dutcus, Senior Vice President, Oncology Global Clinical Development Lead at Eisai Inc. “We remain optimistic about the clinical development program for Keytruda plus Lenvima and are proud that the combination has become a standard of care option for patients with certain types of advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma whose disease has progressed following prior systemic therapy and will continue our efforts to contribute to these patients. We are grateful to the patients, their loved ones, and the investigators whose participation is what makes scientific advancement possible.”

Keytruda plus Lenvima is approved in the U.S., the EU, Japan and other countries for the treatment of certain types of advanced endometrial carcinoma following prior systemic therapy in any setting and advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Lenvatinib is marketed as Kisplyx for advanced RCC in the EU. Merck and Eisai are studying the Keytruda plus Lenvima combination through the LEAP (LEnvatinib And Pembrolizumab) clinical program in various tumor types, including but not limited to hepatocellular carcinoma, RCC, head and neck cancer, gastric cancer and esophageal cancer across multiple clinical trials. Results from the LEAP-001 trial do not affect the current approved indications for the Keytruda plus Lenvima combination or other ongoing trials from the LEAP clinical program.