Merck has released promising interim data from its phase 3 study of its blockbuster cancer drug, Keytruda (pembrolizumab), as an adjuvant treatment in patients with resected stage IIB and IIC melanoma.

The late-stage study in 976 participants met its primary endpoint of recurrence-free survival and its secondary endpoint of distant metastasis-free survival, meaning that cancer did not spread to distant organs or distant lymph nodes.

The FDA approved Keytruda in December 2021 for patients 12 years and older with stage IIB and IIC melanoma following complete resection. The company will use the phase 3 data to support regulatory submissions to other regulatory authorities.