ESMO: Despite checkered past, Merck's Keytruda-Lenvima pairing looks to change practice in liver cancer subtype

After a surprise failure in advanced liver cancer, Merck & Co. and Eisai are hoping new data can make their Keytruda-Lenvima combination a standard of care in intermediate-stage disease.

The positive readout from the phase 3 LEAP-012 study was unveiled Saturday for the first time at the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2024 annual meeting. The addition of Keytruda and Lenvima to standard transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 34% versus TACE alone, the trial found.