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Health · Europe

Merck and Kelun drug cuts death risk in advanced endometrial cancer at Madrid meeting

STAT reported that a randomized Phase 3 study presented in Madrid found Merck and Kelun-Biotech’s sac-TMT reduced the risk of death by one-third among patients with advanced endometrial cancer. Merck is conducting 18 global Phase 3 studies of the drug, including 10 in women’s cancers, to support approvals outside China.

AI-assisted synthesis · Based on 2 independent reports from 3 outlets · Article text read from 1 of 2 reportsHow it's made

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What happened

Key facts

  • A randomized Phase 3 study found that sac-TMT cut the risk of death by one-third among patients with advanced endometrial cancer (per STAT).
  • Merck’s studies are intended to support approvals outside China (per STAT).
  • Kelun-Biotech has conducted studies of sac-TMT in China, where the drug is approved (per STAT).
  • STAT said sac-TMT had shown survival-extending benefits across multiple cancer types in Kelun-Biotech’s China studies (per STAT).
  • STAT said Merck considers sac-TMT important to replacing revenue expected to be lost when Keytruda loses patent protection in 2028 (per STAT).

The brief

A randomized Phase 3 study found that sac-TMT reduced the risk of death by one-third among patients with advanced endometrial cancer, STAT reported. The results were presented in Madrid on Monday. The study concerns sac-TMT, a targeted chemotherapy developed by Merck and China’s Kelun-Biotech.

The reported finding is about the risk of death in the study’s patients; it does not state an absolute death rate. STAT describes the research as randomized and Phase 3, and says the results were presented at a meeting in Madrid. The account does not provide further trial figures alongside the one-third reduction.

Merck is conducting 18 global Phase 3 studies of sac-TMT, STAT reported. Ten of those studies are in women’s cancers. Merck is pursuing the studies to support approvals outside China, according to STAT. Kelun-Biotech has conducted studies of sac-TMT in China, where the drug is approved.

STAT also reported that those studies showed survival-extending benefits across multiple cancer types. The Madrid presentation concerns advanced endometrial cancer, while STAT’s description of the China studies refers more broadly to multiple cancer types. The drug is part of Merck’s commercial planning as well as its clinical program.

STAT reported that Merck views sac-TMT as important to replacing revenue expected to be lost when Keytruda loses patent protection in 2028. Keytruda is described by STAT as Merck’s blockbuster immunotherapy.

The study result and Merck’s broader development effort are distinct points: the reported one-third reduction comes from the randomized Phase 3 study presented in Madrid, while the 18-study program is aimed at supporting approvals outside China. STAT’s account identifies the result and the development and business context, without offering further trial outcomes.

Why it matters

  • Patients with advanced endometrial cancer are the population addressed by the Madrid study, which reported a one-third reduction in risk of death with sac-TMT.
  • Merck’s development program includes 18 global Phase 3 studies, 10 of them in women’s cancers, to support approvals outside China.
  • Kelun-Biotech’s drug is already approved in China, where the company has conducted studies reporting survival-extending benefits across multiple cancer types.
  • Merck has a documented commercial interest in sac-TMT: STAT says the company sees it as important to replacing revenue expected to be lost when Keytruda’s patent protection ends in 2028.

What to watch next

  • Whether Merck’s 18 global Phase 3 studies, including 10 in women’s cancers, support approvals outside China.
  • Whether additional results from the randomized Phase 3 study presented in Madrid are reported.
  • Whether Merck’s sac-TMT program contributes to replacing revenue expected to be lost when Keytruda loses patent protection in 2028.

How it's being covered

Coverage analysisShow details
3 source articles · 3 unique outlets · 2 distinct reports
Outlet political mix: Too few rated· 2 Center · 1 unrated
Where the outlets are based: Unknown 67% · Europe 33%
Outlet political mix
Too few rated
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Center
Right
0 outlets
2 outlets
0 outlets
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Geography
Where the outlets covering this story are based.
3 unique outletsDominant coverage: Europe
How we measure coverage

One source is from a wire service (AP, Reuters, AFP or Bloomberg), whose reporting other outlets often republish.

How outlets' accounts compare

Updat3 does not yet have enough full reports to compare how outlets framed this story.

Timeline

Developments from this story's sources, dated background we compiled and fact-checked, and our earlier coverage. Each row says which.
  1. The FDA granted accelerated approval to pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for advanced melanoma.
    Background · compiled and fact-checked by Updat3
  2. The international partnership began on December 22, 2022, when Merck and Kelun announced a licensing agreement covering seven antibody-drug conjugate candidates, including sac-TMT.
    Background · from our historical context
  3. The NRG-GY018 trial reported results on pembrolizumab with chemotherapy for advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer.
    Background · compiled and fact-checked by Updat3
  4. Kelun-Biotech reported Phase 3 OptiTROP-Breast01 results for sac-TMT in previously treated triple-negative breast cancer.
    Background · compiled and fact-checked by Updat3
  5. The FDA approved pembrolizumab with chemotherapy for certain patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer.
    Background · compiled and fact-checked by Updat3

How we got here

Kelun-Biotech’s sacituzumab tirumotecan, also called sac-TMT or SKB264, entered clinical testing in China before Merck took on development outside the country. In 2024, Kelun reported results from the Phase 3 OptiTROP-Breast01 trial in previously treated triple-negative breast cancer; China approved the drug for that cancer in 2025.

The international partnership began on December 22, 2022, when Merck and Kelun announced a licensing agreement covering seven antibody-drug conjugate candidates, including sac-TMT. The agreement gave Merck a route to develop the drug for patients beyond China, while Kelun continued its domestic studies.

Original sources

3 articles from 3 outlets

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