Merck Receives EC’s Approval for Perioperative Keytruda for Locally Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (LA-HNSCC)

Shots: The EC has approved neoadj. Keytruda followed by adj. Keytruda + SoC radiotherapy (RT) ± cisplatin & then as a single agent to treat operable LA-HNSCC tumors expressing PD-L1 (CPS ≥1) across all 30 EEA states Approval was based on P-III (KEYNOTE-689) trial assessing neoadj. Keytruda (200mg, IV, Q3W × 2 cycles), followed by adj. Keytruda (15…

ByRidhi RastogiOctober 30, 2025

NEWS

Merck Reports the P-III (LITESPARK-022) Trial Data on Welireg + Keytruda to Treat Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC)

Shots: Merck has reported the P-III (LITESPARK-022) trial data assessing Keytruda (400mg, Q6W, IV) + Welireg (120mg, QD, PO) vs Keytruda + PBO for 1yr. in 1,841 pts with clear cell RCC following nephrectomy Trial showed significantly improved disease-free survival (1EP), with OS as 2EP under evaluation; data to be presented in future & shared…

ByRidhi RastogiOctober 29, 2025

NEWS

Merck Reports the US FDA’s Approval of Winrevair (Sotatercept-csrk) to Treat Adults with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH)

Shots: The US FDA has approved Winrevair to treat adults with PAH (WHO Group 1) functional class (FC) II or III Approval was based on the global P-III (ZENITH) trial (N=172) evaluating Winrevair (n=86; 0.7 mg/kg; SC; Q3W) + background therapy vs PBO (n=86) in adults with PAH (WHO FC III/IV) at high mortality risk. WINREVAIR…

ByDipanshu DixitOctober 27, 2025

INSIGHTS+

EMA Marketing Authorization of New Drugs in September 2025

Shots: The EMA’s CHMP has granted approvals to 5 Biologics and 5 new chemical entities in September 2025, leading to treatments for patients and advances in the healthcare industry The major highlighted drug, Merck’s Enflonsia, has Adopted Positive Opinion for RSV Prevention in Infants PharmaShots has compiled a list of 9 drugs that have been…

ByDipanshu DixitOctober 21, 2025

NEWS

Merck’s Keytruda Qlex Receives the US FDA’s Approval for Subcutaneous Use Across 38 Solid Tumor Indications for Keytruda

Shots: The US FDA has approved Keytruda Qlex (pembrolizumab & berahyaluronidase alfa-pmph) for subcutaneous dosing in adults across 38 approved indications of Keytruda, with US availability expected by late Sep 2025 Approval was based on P-III (3475A-D77) trial assessing Keytruda Qlex (790mg/9600 units, Q6W) + Pt doublet CT vs IV Keytruda (400mg, Q6W) + Pt doublet CT…

ByRidhi RastogiSeptember 22, 2025

NEWS

The CHMP Adopts Positive Opinion on Merck’s Enflonsia for RSV Prevention in Infants

Shots: The CHMP has recommended Enflonsia to prevent RSV lower respiratory tract disease in newborns & infants entering their first RSV season, with potential approval valid in all 30 EEA states Opinion was based on P-IIb/III (CLEVER) study assessing Enflonsia in preterm & full-term infants (≤1yr.), plus P-III (SMART) study of Enflonsia vs palivizumab in high-risk…

ByRidhi RastogiSeptember 22, 2025

NEWS

Merck and Daiichi Sankyo’s Raludotatug deruxtecan Receives FDA’s Breakthrough Therapy Designation for Ovarian, Primary Peritoneal, or Fallopian Tube Cancers

Shots: The US FDA has granted BTD to Raludotatug deruxtecan (R-DXd) for the treatment of adults with Pt-resistant epithelial ovarian, primary peritoneal or fallopian tube cancers expressing CDH6 who have received prior treatment with Avastin Designation was based on P-I trial (n=179) & the ongoing P-II/III (REJOICE-Ovarian01) trial (n=~710), with subgroup analysis of P-I presented at…

ByRidhi RastogiSeptember 16, 2025

NEWS

Merck Reports P-III (STRIDE-13) Trial of Capvaxive for Active Immunization Against Pneumococcal Disease

Shots: Merck has reported P-III (STRIDE-13) trial evaluating Capvaxive (21-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine) vs PPSV23 in pts (n=882; 2 to <18yrs.) with prior pediatric pneumococcal vaccination & chronic conditions increasing pneumococcal disease risk Trial showed that Capvaxive induced immune responses to all 21 serotypes per opsonophagocytic activity (OPA) geometric mean titers (2EP), plus was noninferior…

ByRidhi RastogiSeptember 11, 2025

NEWS

Merck Reports Topline P-III (CORALreef Lipids) Trial Data of Enlicitide Decanoate to Treat Hypercholesterolemia

Shots: Merck has reported topline P-III (CORALreef Lipids) trial data assessing enlicitide decanoate vs PBO for the treatment of adults with hypercholesterolemia receiving mod. to high-intensity statins or are intolerant to statins Trial met its 1EP with significant LDL-C reduction at Wk. 24 & achieved 2EPs, showing reduced non-HDL-C, apolipoprotein B, & lipoprotein(a) levels; data…

ByRidhi RastogiSeptember 3, 2025

NEWS

Merck Reports P-III (VICTOR) Trial Data of Verquvo (Vericiguat) for Chronic Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF)

Shots: Merck has reported P-III (VICTOR) trial data assessing Verquvo (n=3,053) vs PBO (n=3,052) in pts with stable chronic heart failure & reduced ejection fraction Trial did not meet its 1EPs of reducing CV death or HF hospitalization (18% vs 19.1%); however, 2EPs showed numerically lower rates of CV death (9.6% vs 11.3%) & HF…

ByRidhi RastogiSeptember 1, 2025

Merck Receives EC’s Approval for Perioperative Keytruda for Locally Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (LA-HNSCC)

Merck Reports the P-III (LITESPARK-022) Trial Data on Welireg + Keytruda to Treat Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC)

Merck Reports the US FDA’s Approval of Winrevair (Sotatercept-csrk) to Treat Adults with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH)

EMA Marketing Authorization of New Drugs in September 2025

Merck’s Keytruda Qlex Receives the US FDA’s Approval for Subcutaneous Use Across 38 Solid Tumor Indications for Keytruda

The CHMP Adopts Positive Opinion on Merck’s Enflonsia for RSV Prevention in Infants

Merck and Daiichi Sankyo’s Raludotatug deruxtecan Receives FDA’s Breakthrough Therapy Designation for Ovarian, Primary Peritoneal, or Fallopian Tube Cancers

Merck Reports P-III (STRIDE-13) Trial of Capvaxive for Active Immunization Against Pneumococcal Disease

Merck Reports Topline P-III (CORALreef Lipids) Trial Data of Enlicitide Decanoate to Treat Hypercholesterolemia

Merck Reports P-III (VICTOR) Trial Data of Verquvo (Vericiguat) for Chronic Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction (HFrEF)

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