Lenvima Combo Falls Short in Liver Cancer Trial
Eisai's Lenvima Combo Trial in Liver Cancer Shows Mixed Results
The Phase 3 LEAP-012 study, conducted by Merck Sharp & Dohme with Eisai as a partner, tested whether adding Eisai's Lenvima and Merck's Keytruda to a liver-directed procedure called TACE could improve outcomes for patients with hard-to-treat liver cancer.
The trial compared two approaches: one group received Lenvima plus Keytruda along with TACE, while the other group received TACE plus dummy pills and infusions.
The study had a double-blind design, meaning neither patients nor doctors knew who was receiving the active drugs. The main goal was to test treatment benefit rather than just observe disease progression.
Despite showing improvements in time to progression and response rates, the combo did not extend overall survival, which is often a key driver for new approvals and peak sales.