Chlorotrianisene

BARCELONA — Merck’s bumpy six-year relationship with Eisai’s anti-cancer medication Lenvima landed on somewhat better footing in Spain over the weekend, but the duo is not out of the clear yet. Separately, the company also now has more long-term clarity on its perioperative approach with Keytruda. The New Jersey-based pharma company said Keytruda helped patients with a common type of primary liver cancer live longer without disease progression when paired up with Eisai’s VEGF inhibitor Lenvima and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) versus double placebo and TACE. A minimally invasive procedure, TACE is the primary method of treating intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma, or HCC, the patient population included in the Phase 3 trial presented Saturday at the annual European Society for Medical Oncology Congress. Data from the first interim analysis of the Phase 3, known as LEAP-012, show a median progression-free survival of 14.6 months for patients on the combination versus 10 months for those in the placebo group. But the coupling, which experienced three late-stage failures last year, still needs to hit on overall survival and prove that side effects are worth the risk before Merck and Eisai seek regulatory clearance. “These drugs are not easy to take, like chemo is not easy to take. Pembro [Keytruda] is a lot more kinder, gentler. Lenvatinib [Lenvima] has its own safety profile, so it’s kind of a race between efficacy and toxicity, and I want to make sure the race gets us to OS before we file,” Eliav Barr, chief medical officer of Merck Research Laboratories, told Endpoints News on the sidelines of ESMO. Barr said the companies await overall survival data before shipping the combo to regulators for an approval request in HCC. Overall survival was “immature and the significance threshold was not met” at the time of the interim analysis, with a data cutoff of Jan. 30, trial investigators said in their ESMO abstract. “The idea here is that in these highly vascular tumors, adding further inability to replenish the vasculature just basically kills the tumor off, and that’s what happens with this combination,” Barr said. On the toxicity side, about 71% of patients on the combo regimen experienced grade 3-4 treatment-related adverse events or died, versus 31.5% in the placebo group. About 8.4% of patients on the blockbuster drugs discontinued because of treatment issues, whereas only 1.2% of the placebo group could say the same. The trial is part of a broader LEAP program pairing Keytruda with Lenvima. The duo has received regulatory green lights in certain carcinomas but they flopped in three trials last year. The LEAP-012 data come 10 months after AstraZeneca said its cancer drug Imfinzi plus TACE and Avastin notched a clinically meaningful improvement on progression-free survival in its Phase 3 in patients with HCC. AstraZeneca has yet to present OS results as well. Like Merck, AstraZeneca is also investigating potential pairings with Lenvima. The UK pharma is running a Phase 3 of Imfinzi with its CTLA-4-targeting drug Imjudo with or without Lenvima in combination with TACE in a study labeled EMERALD-3. Roche is also in the area, testing Tecentriq with Avastin and TACE in a late-stage trial . Researchers in the UK are also looking at the potential of Bristol Myers Squibb’s Opdivo in combination with TACE. Also over the weekend, researchers said that Keytruda, when combined with chemotherapy before surgery and used alone post-operation, was better than chemotherapy alone in keeping patients with high-risk early-stage triple-negative breast cancer alive. Merck said the five-year OS rate was in favor of Keytruda and is statistically significant at 86.6% versus 81.7% with chemo alone. Researchers also said the results of the study, dubbed KEYNOTE-522, were clinically meaningful. The data were presented on Sunday at ESMO. The OS results add weight to the neoadjuvant-adjuvant approach that wasn’t smooth sailing when Merck first sought approval for the regimen earlier this decade. In February 2021, the FDA’s outside experts didn’t support approval of the regimen because of immature OS data. In March of that year, the FDA rejected it . By the end of summer, though, Merck snagged the nod that it wanted. “[KEYNOTE-522] is not just a result for patients, but it’s also a paradigm for everything that we’ve done in early cancer over the years. It’s kind of a pioneering study, because when we first thought about Keytruda in early-stage cancer, the question was how to best use the drug, and we chose a specific approach of what we call neoadjuvant-adjuvant,” Barr said in the interview. At the time, new interventions weren’t typically studied in such an approach, Barr said. The goal is to condition the tumor so it’s easier for surgeons to remove and can help prevent recurrences. “As it turns out, that concept has been very fruitful,” Barr added, pointing to KEYNOTE-671 as another example of success with the approach. KEYNOTE-671 was characterized by an FDA leader as the “ elephant in the room ” at an FDA advisory panel this summer. The regulator’s outside experts called for better so-called perioperative studies of immunotherapy around lung cancer surgery. More neoadjuvant-adjuvant regimens of Keytruda are being tested in head and neck, bladder, endometrial and other cancers, Barr said.

In the Phase 3 LEAP-012 trial, KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA in combination with TACE reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 34% compared to TACE alone Late-breaking first interim analysis results are being presented during a Presidential Symposium session at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2024 RAHWAY, NJ & NUTLEY, NJ, USA I September 14, 2024 I Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, and Eisai today announced results from the first interim analysis of the Phase 3 LEAP-012 trial evaluating KEYTRUDA ® (pembrolizumab), Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, plus LENVIMA ® (lenvatinib), the orally available multiple receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) discovered by Eisai, in combination with transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) compared to TACE alone for the treatment of patients with unresectable, non-metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). These late-breaking data are being presented for the first time today during a Presidential Symposium at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2024 (Presentation #LBA3). After a median follow-up of 25.6 months (range, 12.6-43.5), KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA in combination with TACE demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS), reducing the risk of disease progression or death by 34% (HR=0.66 [95% CI, 0.51-0.84]; p=0.0002) compared to TACE alone. Median PFS was 14.6 months (95% CI, 12.6-16.7) for the KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA-based regimen versus 10.0 months (95% CI, 8.1-12.2) for TACE alone. At this analysis, a trend toward improvement in overall survival (OS), the trial’s other primary endpoint, was observed for the KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA-based regimen versus TACE alone (HR=0.80 [95% CI, 0.57-1.11]; p=0.0867); the OS data are not mature and did not reach statistical significance at the time of this interim analysis. The trial is continuing, and follow-up of OS is ongoing. The safety profile of the KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA-based regimen was consistent with that observed in previously reported studies evaluating the combination. “Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, highlighting the need for new treatment options,” said Dr. Josep Llovet, Director of the Liver Cancer Program and Professor of Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “These findings from the LEAP-012 trial demonstrate the potential of pembrolizumab plus lenvatinib in combination with TACE to extend progression-free survival for patients diagnosed with unresectable, non-metastatic disease.” “Global incidence rates for hepatocellular carcinoma are expected to rise by more than 50 percent over the next two decades, and there have been limited advances for patients with unresectable, non-metastatic forms of disease,” said Dr. Gregory Lubiniecki, Vice President, Global Clinical Development, Merck Research Laboratories. “These results reflect our commitment to exploring therapeutic options for these patients, including in earlier stages of disease. We’re encouraged by the potential for another treatment option for patients with unresectable non-metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma in addition to the existing monotherapy indications for KEYTRUDA and LENVIMA.” “Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) has been a standard of care option for patients with unresectable, non-metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma for many years; however, many patients experience disease progression within one year,” said Dr. Corina Dutcus, Senior Vice President, Oncology Global Clinical Development Lead at Eisai Inc. “Data from the Phase 3 LEAP-012 study demonstrate that the addition of KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA to TACE may help address the unmet need for therapies that can improve progression-free survival for people with this disease. We are grateful to the patients and investigators for their participation in this study.” Treatment was administered to 237 patients receiving the KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA-based regimen and 241 patients receiving TACE alone. Treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) occurred in 98.7% of patients receiving KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA in combination with TACE versus 84.6% of patients receiving TACE alone and led to the discontinuation of both study drugs in 8.4% versus 1.2% of patients, respectively. Serious adverse events were observed in 33.3% of patients receiving KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA in combination with TACE versus 12.4% of patients receiving TACE alone. Grade 3 or 4 TRAEs occurred in 71.3% of patients receiving KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA in combination with TACE versus 31.1% for TACE alone, and TRAEs led to death in 1.7% (n=4) versus 0.4% (n=1) of patients, respectively. LENVIMA monotherapy is approved for the treatment of patients with unresectable HCC in more than 80 countries, including in the U.S., Europe, China and Japan. KEYTRUDA is approved as a monotherapy for the treatment of patients with HCC secondary to hepatitis B who have received prior systemic therapy other than a PD-1/PD-L1-containing regimen in the U.S. and as a monotherapy for the treatment of patients with HCC who have been previously treated with sorafenib or oxaliplatin-containing chemotherapy in China. KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA is approved in the U.S., the EU, Japan and other countries for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and certain types of advanced endometrial carcinoma. Lenvatinib is marketed as KISPLYX for advanced RCC in the EU. Merck and Eisai are studying the KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA combination through the LEAP ( LE nvatinib A nd P embrolizumab) clinical program in various tumor types, including but not limited to HCC, RCC, head and neck cancer, gastric cancer and esophageal cancer across multiple clinical trials. Study design and additional data from LEAP-012 LEAP-012 is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind Phase 3 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04246177 ) evaluating KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA in combination with TACE versus dual placebo plus TACE for the treatment of patients with unresectable, non-metastatic HCC. The primary endpoints are PFS as assessed by blinded independent central review (BICR) per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1 (RECIST v1.1) following a maximum of five target lesions and with a requirement that new intrahepatic lesions must meet LI-RADS 5 criteria and OS. Secondary endpoints include objective response rate, duration of response, disease control rate, and time to progression as assessed by BICR per RECIST v1.1 and Modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST), as well as PFS as assessed by BICR per mRECIST and safety. The study randomized 480 patients 1:1 to receive: All study drugs were continued until protocol-specified discontinuation criteria. KEYTRUDA was administered for up to two years (approximately 18 doses). After completing two years of combination therapy, LENVIMA may have been administered as a single agent until protocol-specified discontinuation criteria were met. About hepatocellular carcinoma Liver cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. In the U.S., the incidence rates of liver cancer have more than tripled since 1980, and death rates have doubled during that time. Incidence rates are expected to continue to rise in various regions across the world until 2040, including in countries with advanced healthcare systems. It is estimated there were more than 865,000 new cases of liver cancer and more than 757,000 deaths from the disease globally in 2022. In the U.S., it is estimated there will be approximately 41,630 patients diagnosed with liver cancer and 29,840 patient deaths from the disease in 2024. The five-year relative survival rate for liver cancer in the U.S. is 22%, based on SEER data from 2013-2019. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer, accounting for an estimated 90% of primary liver cancer cases. About KEYTRUDA ® (pembrolizumab) injection, 100 mg KEYTRUDA is an anti-programmed death receptor-1 (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. Merck has the industry’s largest immuno-oncology clinical research program. There are currently more than 1,600 trials studying KEYTRUDA across a wide variety of cancers and treatment settings. 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. Selected KEYTRUDA ® (pembrolizumab) Indications in the U.S. Hepatocellular Carcinoma KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with HCC secondary to hepatitis B who have received prior systemic therapy other than a PD-1/PD-L1-containing regimen. Melanoma KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma. KEYTRUDA is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of adult and pediatric (12 years and older) patients with Stage IIB, IIC, or III melanoma following complete resection. Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer KEYTRUDA, in combination with pemetrexed and platinum chemotherapy, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations. KEYTRUDA, in combination with carboplatin and either paclitaxel or paclitaxel protein-bound, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic squamous NSCLC. KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with NSCLC expressing PD-L1 [Tumor Proportion Score (TPS) ≥1%] as determined by an FDA-approved test, with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations, and is: KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic NSCLC whose tumors express PD-L1 (TPS ≥1%) as determined by an FDA-approved test, with disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy. Patients with EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations should have disease progression on FDA-approved therapy for these aberrations prior to receiving KEYTRUDA. KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with resectable (tumors ≥4 cm or node positive) NSCLC in combination with platinum-containing chemotherapy as neoadjuvant treatment, and then continued as a single agent as adjuvant treatment after surgery. KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated as adjuvant treatment following resection and platinum-based chemotherapy for adult patients with Stage IB (T2a ≥4 cm), II, or IIIA NSCLC. Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer KEYTRUDA, in combination with platinum and fluorouracil (FU), is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic or with unresectable, recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic or with unresectable, recurrent HNSCC whose tumors express PD-L1 [Combined Positive Score (CPS) ≥1] as determined by an FDA-approved test. KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic HNSCC with disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy. Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of pediatric patients with refractory cHL, or cHL that has relapsed after 2 or more lines of therapy. Primary Mediastinal Large B-Cell Lymphoma KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with refractory primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL), or who have relapsed after 2 or more prior lines of therapy. KEYTRUDA is not recommended for treatment of patients with PMBCL who require urgent cytoreductive therapy. Urothelial Cancer KEYTRUDA, in combination with enfortumab vedotin, is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer. KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma: KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of patients with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG)-unresponsive, high-risk, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with carcinoma in situ (CIS) with or without papillary tumors who are ineligible for or have elected not to undergo cystectomy. Microsatellite Instability-High or Mismatch Repair Deficient Cancer KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with unresectable or metastatic microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) solid tumors, as determined by an FDA-approved test, that have progressed following prior treatment and who have no satisfactory alternative treatment options. Microsatellite Instability-High or Mismatch Repair Deficient Colorectal Cancer KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic MSI-H or dMMR colorectal cancer (CRC) as determined by an FDA-approved test. Gastric Cancer KEYTRUDA, in combination with trastuzumab, fluoropyrimidine- and platinum containing chemotherapy, is indicated for the first-line treatment of adults with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS ≥1) as determined by an FDA-approved test. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval of this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials. KEYTRUDA, in combination with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy, is indicated for the first-line treatment of adults with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-negative gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma. Esophageal Cancer KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic esophageal or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) (tumors with epicenter 1 to 5 centimeters above the GEJ) carcinoma that is not amenable to surgical resection or definitive chemoradiation either: Cervical Cancer KEYTRUDA, in combination with chemoradiotherapy (CRT), is indicated for the treatment of patients with FIGO 2014 Stage III-IVA cervical cancer. KEYTRUDA, in combination with chemotherapy, with or without bevacizumab, is indicated for the treatment of patients with persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS ≥1) as determined by an FDA-approved test. KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer with disease progression on or after chemotherapy whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS ≥1) as determined by an FDA-approved test. Biliary Tract Cancer KEYTRUDA, in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin, is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic biliary tract cancer (BTC). Merkel Cell Carcinoma KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with recurrent locally advanced or metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). Renal Cell Carcinoma KEYTRUDA, in combination with axitinib, is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). KEYTRUDA, in combination with lenvatinib, is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with advanced RCC. KEYTRUDA is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of patients with RCC at intermediate-high or high risk of recurrence following nephrectomy, or following nephrectomy and resection of metastatic lesions. Endometrial Carcinoma KEYTRUDA, in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel, followed by KEYTRUDA as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with primary advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma. KEYTRUDA, in combination with lenvatinib, is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma that is mismatch repair proficient (pMMR) as determined by an FDA-approved test or not MSI-H, who have disease progression following prior systemic therapy in any setting are not candidates for curative surgery or radiation. KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma that is MSI-H or dMMR, as determined by an FDA-approved test, who have disease progression following prior systemic therapy in any setting and are not candidates for curative surgery or radiation. Tumor Mutational Burden-High Cancer KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with unresectable or metastatic tumor mutational burden-high (TMB-H) [≥10 mutations/megabase (mut/Mb)] solid tumors, as determined by an FDA-approved test, that have progressed following prior treatment and who have no satisfactory alternative treatment options. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials. The safety and effectiveness of KEYTRUDA in pediatric patients with TMB-H central nervous system cancers have not been established. Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) or locally advanced cSCC that is not curable by surgery or radiation. Triple-Negative Breast Cancer KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with high-risk early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) in combination with chemotherapy as neoadjuvant treatment, and then continued as a single agent as adjuvant treatment after surgery. KEYTRUDA, in combination with chemotherapy, is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally recurrent unresectable or metastatic TNBC whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS ≥10) as determined by an FDA-approved test. Please see Prescribing Information for KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) at http://www.merck.com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/product/usa/pi_circulars/k/keytruda/keytruda_pi.pdf and Medication Guide for KEYTRUDA at http://www.merck.com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/product/usa/pi_circulars/k/keytruda/keytruda_mg.pdf . About LENVIMA ® (lenvatinib); available as 10 mg and 4 mg capsules LENVIMA, discovered and developed by Eisai, is an orally available multiple receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor that inhibits the kinase activities of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors VEGFR1 (FLT1), VEGFR2 (KDR), and VEGFR3 (FLT4). LENVIMA inhibits other kinases that have been implicated in pathogenic angiogenesis, tumor growth, and cancer progression in addition to their normal cellular functions, including fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptors FGFR1-4, the platelet derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRα), KIT, and RET. Lenvatinib also exhibited antiproliferative activity in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines dependent on activated FGFR signaling with a concurrent inhibition of FGF-receptor substrate 2α (FRS2α) phosphorylation. In syngeneic mouse tumor models, LENVIMA decreased tumor-associated macrophages, increased activated cytotoxic T cells, and demonstrated greater antitumor activity in combination with an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody compared to either treatment alone. LENVIMA ® (lenvatinib) Indications in the U.S. Please see Prescribing Information for LENVIMA (lenvatinib) at http://www.lenvima.com/pdfs/prescribing-information.pdf . About the Merck and Eisai strategic collaboration In March 2018, Eisai and Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, through an affiliate, entered into a strategic collaboration for the worldwide co-development and co-commercialization of LENVIMA. Under the agreement, the companies jointly develop, manufacture and commercialize LENVIMA, both as monotherapy and in combination with Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy KEYTRUDA. Eisai and Merck are studying the KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA combination through the LEAP (LEnvatinib And Pembrolizumab) clinical program in various tumor types across multiple clinical trials. Merck’s focus on cancer Every day, we follow the science as we work to discover innovations that can help patients, no matter what stage of cancer they have. As a leading oncology company, we are pursuing research where scientific opportunity and medical need converge, underpinned by our diverse pipeline of more than 25 novel mechanisms. With one of the largest clinical development programs across more than 30 tumor types, we strive to advance breakthrough science that will shape the future of oncology. By addressing barriers to clinical trial participation, screening and treatment, we work with urgency to reduce disparities and help ensure patients have access to high-quality cancer care. Our unwavering commitment is what will bring us closer to our goal of bringing life to more patients with cancer. For more information, visit https://www-merck-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/research/oncology . About Merck At Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than 130 years, we have brought hope to humanity through the development of important medicines and vaccines. We aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world – and today, we are at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. We foster a diverse and inclusive global workforce and operate responsibly every day to enable a safe, sustainable and healthy future for all people and communities. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on X (formerly Twitter) , Facebook , Instagram , YouTube and LinkedIn . Eisai’s focus on cancer Eisai acknowledges “Oncology” as one of its key strategic areas, and will continue to focus on the discovery and development of anti-cancer drugs within drug discovery domains including “microenvironment”, “proteostasis disruption”, “cell lineage and cell differentiation”, and “inflammation, hypoxia, oxidative stress and cell senescence” under the Deep Human Biology Learning (DHBL) drug discovery and development organization. Eisai aspires to discover innovative new drugs with new targets and mechanisms of action from these domains, with the aim of contributing to the cure of cancers. About Eisai Eisai’s Corporate Concept is “to give first thought to patients and people in the daily living domain, and to increase the benefits that health care provides.” Under this Concept [also known as our human health care ( hhc ) Concept], we aim to effectively achieve social good in the form of relieving anxiety over health and reducing health disparities. With a global network of R&D facilities, manufacturing sites and marketing subsidiaries, we strive to create and deliver innovative products to target diseases with high unmet medical needs, with a particular focus in our strategic areas of Neurology and Oncology. In addition, our continued commitment to the elimination of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) , which is a target (3.3) of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) , is demonstrated by our work on various activities together with global partners. For more information about Eisai, please visit www.eisai.com (for global headquarters: Eisai Co., Ltd.), us.eisai.com (for U.S. headquarters: Eisai Inc.) or www.eisai.eu (for Europe, Middle East, Africa, Russia, Australia, and New Zealand headquarters: Eisai Europe Ltd.), and connect with us on Twitter ( U.S. and global ) and LinkedIn (for U.S. and EMEA ). SOURCE: Merck