Merck to showcase breakthrough data on hematologic malignancies at ASH 2024

Merck known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, today announced that new data for approved and investigational medicines across multiple hematologic malignancies will be presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition in San Diego from Dec. 7-10. Data being shared at the meeting will showcase the company’s continued progress in advancing clinical research for Merck’s expanding and diverse pipeline of investigational candidates, with more than 20 abstracts being presented.

“The innovative research that will be presented at this year’s ASH highlights our robust clinical development program and our commitment to exploring novel modalities and therapeutic targets, as we work to improve outcomes and address unmet needs for people with hematologic neoplasms and malignancies,” said Dr. Marjorie Green, senior vice president and head of oncology, global clinical development, Merck Research Laboratories. “In particular, we’re pleased to share our research evaluating the impact of our investigational antibody-drug conjugate for the treatment of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, the most common form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.”

Data presentations will feature candidates from Merck’s pipeline, including for: zilovertamab vedotin (MK-2140), an investigational antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) that targets receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1 (ROR1); nemtabrutinib (MK-1026), an investigational, non-covalent Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor; and bomedemstat (MK-3543), an investigational orally available lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) inhibitor. Additionally, new and updated results for KEYTRUDA ^® (pembrolizumab), Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, will be presented.

Key data from Merck’s portfolio and pipeline to be presented at the 2024 ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition:

• First presentation of results from the Phase 2 waveLINE-007 dose escalation study evaluating the safety and efficacy of zilovertamab vedotin in combination with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and prednisone plus rituximab in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) with no prior treatment (Abstract #578)
• First-time results from the Phase 2 waveLINE-006 cohort C study evaluating zilovertamab vedotin in combination with nemtabrutinib for patients with relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma (Abstract #3025)
• First-time Phase 2 data presentation from the BELLWAVE-003 study evaluating nemtabrutinib in relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma (Abstract #1634)
• Updated results from the Phase 2 KEYNOTE-667 study evaluating KEYTRUDA in children, adolescents and young adults with low-risk classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) and slow early response to front-line chemotherapy (Abstract #462)

Details on abstracts listed above and additional key abstracts for Merck HERE.