Merck announced findings from the registrational phase 2 KEYNOTE-224 trial investigating the use of KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab), the company’s anti-PD-1 therapy, in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer, who were previously treated with systemic therapy (sorafenib). Results showed an overall response rate (ORR) of 16.3% (95% CI, 9.8-24.9) (n=17/104) with KEYTRUDA as monotherapy. Data also include six-month overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates. The findings will be presented at the 2018 American Society of Clinical Oncology Gastrointestinal (ASCO GI) Cancers Symposium in San Francisco in an oral presentation on Jan. 19, from 1:10-1:15 p.m. PT (Location: Level 3 – Room 3014) (Abstract #209). The KEYTRUDA clinical program seeks to understand the role of KEYTRUDA across cancers and the factors that may predict a patient’s likelihood of benefitting from treatment with KEYTRUDA, including exploring several different biomarkers. KEYTRUDA is an anti-PD-1 therapy that works by increasing the ability of the body’s immune system to help detect and fight tumor cells. KEYTRUDA is a humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks the interaction between PD-1 and its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, thereby activating T lymphocytes which may affect both tumor cells and healthy cells.