Merck and Eisai showed their Keytruda-Lenvima combo could cut the risk of death by 34% over Pfizer’s old standard treatment Sutent in newly diagnosed kidney cancer. While the overall survival showing was very similar to the numbers for three other immuno-oncology cocktails based on Keytruda or Bristol Myers Squibb’s Opdivo, SVB Leerink analyst Daina Graybosch pointed to other efficacy data in crowning the Keytruda-Lenvima pairing as the “clear choice.” But the win is not a done deal at this point, she noted.
AbbVie’s Allergan and its South Korean partner MedyTox have decided to settle the legal battle they waged against Evolus and its own Korean partner Daewoong Pharmaceutical over their wrinkle-lifting drugs. The news came on the heels of a U.S. appeals court's decision to temporarily allow the Evolus pair’s Botox rival, Jeuveau, to stay on the U.S. market as it reviewed an import ban installed by the U.S. International Trade Commission. AbbVie and Medytox abandoned all claims that Jeuveau was developed with stolen trade secrets in return for milestone and royalty payments from Evolus.