Merck and Kelun Report Positive Phase 3 Results for Sac-TMT and Keytruda Combination in NSCLC

Merck and Kelun-Biotech reported positive Phase 3 OptiTROP-Lung06 results for sacituzumab tirumotecan (sac-TMT) plus Keytruda in previously untreated advanced non-squamous NSCLC with low PD-L1 expression. The combination reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 51% versus Keytruda plus platinum-based chemotherapy, with median progression-free survival of 15.0 months compared with 5.7 months. The findings were presented at ESMO 2026 and published simultaneously in The New England Journal of Medicine.