Merck (NYSE:MRK) unveiled groundbreaking final results from the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-B96 trial today at the ESGO 2026 Congress, demonstrating that a Keytruda-based regimen can extend the lives of patients facing one of the most aggressive forms of ovarian cancer.
In the trial, Keytruda in combination with chemotherapy (paclitaxel)—with or without bevacizumab—reduced the risk of death by 18% in "all-comer" patients, regardless of their PD-L1 status.
Patients on the Keytruda regimen saw a median overall survival (OS) of 17.7 months, compared to 14 months for those receiving standard chemotherapy alone.
According to Dr. Nicoletta Colombo of the European Institute of Oncology, these results are among the longest survival figures ever reported in a clinical trial for platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer.
The data release comes amid a flurry of regulatory wins for the therapy.
Earlier this month, the U.S. FDA approved the Keytruda combination for adults with PD-L1-expressing (CPS ≥1) platinum-resistant ovarian cancer who have failed up to two prior lines of therapy.
Parallel to today's clinical update, the EMA's CHMP issued a positive opinion recommending a similar approval in the European Union, clearing the path for a formal European Commission decision by the second quarter of 2026.
While Keytruda has already transformed the treatment landscape for lung, skin, and bladder cancers, ovarian cancer has historically been less responsive to immunotherapy.
These results provide a new standard of care for patients who have exhausted traditional platinum-based treatments.
Merck noted that the safety profile remained consistent with previous studies, with no new safety signals emerging during the median follow-up of 32.7 months.