In this pivotal study, KEYTRUDA demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS), one of the dual primary endpoints. KEYTRUDA reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 35% (HR=0.65 [95% CI, 0.48-0.88; p=0.00271]) and showed a median PFS of 13.2 months compared with 8.3 months for patients treated with brentuximab vedotin (BV), a current standard of care in this patient population. As previously announced, KEYNOTE-204 serves as the confirmatory trial for the KEYTRUDA accelerated approval hematology indications and the company plans to submit these data to global regulatory authorities this year.
'In this head-to-head study, KEYTRUDA demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival when compared with brentuximab vedotin, reinforcing the benefit of KEYTRUDA in classical Hodgkin lymphoma,' said Dr.
'These data are particularly meaningful since approximately 15 to 20% of patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma, the most common type of Hodgkin lymphoma, generally do not achieve remission following first-line treatment,' said Dr.
These results are being presented in an oral abstract session of the virtual scientific program of the 2020
KEYNOTE-204 Study Design and Additional Data (Abstract #8005)
KEYNOTE-204 is a randomized, open-label, Phase 3 trial evaluating KEYTRUDA monotherapy versus BV for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory cHL (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02684292). The dual primary endpoints are PFS and overall survival (OS). Key secondary endpoints include objective response rate (ORR), complete response rate and safety. The study enrolled 304 patients, aged 18 years and older, who were randomized to receive either KEYTRUDA (200 mg intravenously on Day 1 of each three-week cycle for up to 35 cycles) or BV (1.8 mg/kg [maximum 180 mg per dose] intravenously on Day 1 of each three-week cycle for up to 35 cycles). Per the pre-specified analysis plan, the other dual primary endpoint of OS was not formally tested at this interim analysis. The study will continue to evaluate OS.
In this study, KEYTRUDA demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in PFS (HR=0.65 [95% CI, 0.48-0.88; p=0.00271]) and showed a median PFS of 13.2 months compared with 8.3 months for patients treated with BV. The one-year PFS rate was 53.9% with KEYTRUDA versus 35.6% with BV. Additionally, the ORR was 65.6% with KEYTRUDA versus 54.2% with BV, with a complete response observed in 24.5% and 24.2% of patients, respectively; partial responses were observed in 41.1% and 30.1% of patients, respectively. Median duration of response was 20.7 months (range, 0.0+ to 33.2+) with KEYTRUDA versus 13.8 months with BV (range, 0.0+ to 33.9+).
The incidence of treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) was similar with KEYTRUDA (74.3%) compared with BV (77.0%). Grade 3-5 TRAEs were lower in patients treated with KEYTRUDA (19.6%) compared with BV (25.0%). There was one treatment-related death with KEYTRUDA (pneumonia).
About Hodgkin Lymphoma
Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of lymphoma that develops in the white blood cells, called lymphocytes, which are part of the immune system. Hodgkin lymphoma can start almost anywhere - most often in lymph nodes in the upper part of the body, with the most common sites being in the chest, neck or under the arms. Worldwide, there were approximately 80,000 new cases of Hodgkin lymphoma and more than 26,000 people died from the disease in 2018. In 2020, it is estimated that nearly 8,500 people will be diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in the
About KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) Injection, 100 mg
KEYTRUDA is an anti-PD-1 therapy that works by increasing the ability of the body's immune system to help detect and fight tumor cells. KEYTRUDA is a humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks the interaction between PD-1 and its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, thereby activating T lymphocytes which may affect both tumor cells and healthy cells.
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