Merck Cancels Lung Cancer Trial Combination with Trodelvy

Merck (NYSE:MRK) and Gilead Sciences have stopped a Phase III trial combining Trodelvy and Keytruda in non-small cell lung cancer after interim data showed disappointing results.

The decision ends development of this specific combination in this cancer setting, which affects expectations for Merck's oncology pipeline where combination therapies with Keytruda play an important role.

Merck remains a large and diversified drug maker within global healthcare, with the stock up 20.8% year to date and 64.7% over the past year, but the recent decline of 1.2% in the past week frames how the market has treated recent pipeline and portfolio developments.