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Merck shares jump after Phase 3 melanoma results for intismeran plus Keytruda
Merck said the Phase 3 INTerpath-001 trial showed statistically significant improvements in recurrence-free survival and distant-metastasis-free survival with no new safety signals versus Keytruda alone.
Merck & Co., Inc. shares surged after results from a pivotal melanoma Phase 3 trial backed intismeran autogene, an individualized mRNA cancer therapy developed with Moderna, when used alongside Keytruda.
According to Yahoo Finance, in the 1,137-patient INTerpath-001 study, intismeran plus Keytruda delivered statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in recurrence-free survival and distant-metastasis-free survival compared with Keytruda alone, with no new safety concerns identified.
The rally highlights the stakes for Merck’s Keytruda franchise, with Keytruda and Keytruda Qlex generating $31.68 billion in 2025, nearly half of total sales, and investors weighing whether intismeran can help extend the therapy’s growth runway.
In the U.S., Yahoo Finance noted biosimilar competition could begin after Keytruda’s primary compound patent expires in December 2028, while the company is also studying intismeran combinations in non-small cell lung, bladder, and renal-cell cancers.