Merck Reports Positive Interim Phase 3 Study Results for Welireg Combos in Kidney Cancer
By Colin Kellaher
Merck & Co. on Tuesday reported positive interim results from a pair of late-stage combination studies involving its Welireg oral cancer drug in the most common type of kidney cancer.
Merck on Tuesday said a Phase 3 study evaluating the dual oral regimen of Welireg plus Lenvima met one of its primary endpoints of progression-free survival for the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma whose disease progressed on or after treatment with anti-PD-1/L1 therapy.
The Rahway, N.J., drugmaker said a trend toward improvement in overall survival, the study's other primary endpoint, was observed but didn't reach statistical significance at the time of the interim analysis and will be tested at a subsequent analysis.
Merck and Tokyo-based Eisai formed a collaboration in 2018 to jointly develop, manufacture and commercialize Lenvima. which Eisai discovered.
Separately, Merck said Welireg in combination with its blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda met the primary endpoint in a Phase 3 study in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma following nephrectomy, showing a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in disease-free survival.
The company said the study will continue to evaluate overall survival, a key secondary endpoint.
Write to Colin Kellaher at colin.kellaher@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
October 28, 2025 08:15 ET (12:15 GMT)
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