At yesterday’s European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) meeting, Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp. announced positive data from two studies regarding its Keytruda ® (pembrolizumab) biologic.  According to Merck’s press release, Keytruda performed better than the standard of care chemotherapy as a first line therapy for patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, and the data “demonstrate the potential of KEYTRUDA to change the way non-small cell lung cancer is currently treated.”  The data from the two studies were also published in The New England Journal of Medicine (results of study KEYNOTE-024) and The Lancet (results of study KEYNOTE-021).

Also at the ESMO meeting, Bristol Myers Squibb presented results from a study regarding its Opdivo® (nivolumab) biologic.  According to the BMS press release, Opdivo showed a “durable response” as a second line treatment for non-small cell lung cancer.

Both Keytruda and Opdivo are anti-PD-1 antibodies.