Merck & Co. has reported promising results for its experimental drug sacituzumab tirumotecan, or sac-TMT, in treating advanced endometrial cancer. The late-stage study, presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology congress on Monday, showed that patients receiving sac-TMT lived a median of 19 months, compared with 12.1 months for those given chemotherapy.
The findings mark a significant milestone for Merck, as the drug is also being studied in a variety of other tumors. The treatment, however, came with notable side effects, including anemia and severe mouth sores, which could impact its broader adoption.
Despite the side effects, the results bolster Merck’s ambitions for sac-TMT, positioning it as a potential new standard in treating this hard-to-treat form of uterine cancer. The company is likely to pursue further studies and regulatory approvals based on these encouraging outcomes.