Credit: Shutterstock photoMerckMRK and Japanese partner Easai Co., Ltd announced that the FDA has granted breakthrough therapy designation ("BTD") to the combination regimen of Merck's anti-PD-1 therapy, Keytruda, and Easai's multiple receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, Lenvima.
The companies are developing the combination as a potential treatment for advanced and/or metastatic renal cell carcinoma ("RCC") or kidney cancer.
This is the 12th BTD for Keytruda and second for Lenvima.
The designation aims to expedite the development and review of drugs intended to treat serious or life-threatening conditions and provide patients access to these as soon as possible.
Merck's shares have decreased 5.2% in the past year, underperforming the industry 's gain of 16.8% during that period.
While Keytruda is Merck's blockbuster immunotherapy drug approved for several cancer indications, Easai's Lenvima is approved as a single agent for treating differentiated thyroid cancer and in combination with Novartis' NVS chemo drug, Afinitor (everolimus), for advanced RCC following one prior anti-angiogenic therapy.
Apart from Lenvima, Merck has collaborated with several companies including Amgen, Inc. AMGN , Incyte, Glaxo and Pfizer, Inc. PFE separately for the evaluation of Keytruda in combination with other regimens.
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Merck carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here .
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
