Interim data from cohort B of KEYNOTE-555, a phase I trial evaluating a 400 mg every 6-week dosing regimen of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) in patients with metastatic melanoma, was presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Virtual Meeting 2020, held from April 27-28, 2020.1
The preliminary pharmacokinetic, efficacy, and safety analyzed from this cohort validated the findings from the model-based assessment, of which a consistent benefit-risk profile was demonstrated for a dosing regimen of 400 mg every 6 weeks compared to the 200 mg (or 2 mg/kg) dosing every 3 weeks.
“This offers convenience and flexibility to both patients and providers, the need for which is particularly exemplified by the current COVID-19 pandemic,” Mallika Lala, PhD, associate principle scientist for the quantitative pharmacology and pharmacometrics group at Merck, the developer of…
