Merck's Keytruda Granted Approval for Prostate Cancer Clinical Trial in China

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On March 31, MSD’s pembrolizumab injection was approved in China for a clinical trial to treat prostate tumors.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men, with significant regional and racial disparities in its incidence. Although the incidence of prostate cancer in China is lower than that in European and American countries, it has shown a significant upward trend in recent years due to the accelerating aging of the population.

At the investor conference held in June 2019, MSD stated that prostate cancer would be a key area for Keytruda development. MSD has already initiated three pivotal Phase III clinical studies of Keytruda for the treatment of prostate cancer, including combinations with prednisone, olaparib, and enzalutamide. Currently, all three combination therapies have demonstrated positive efficacy in Phase I/IIb clinical studies.

Source: PharmaCube NextPharma

According to the PharmaGo database by Medicine Cube, MSD has conducted 22 clinical trials of pembrolizumab in China, with indications including hepatocellular carcinoma, endometrial cancer, esophageal cancer, and head and neck cancer.