07:23 AM EDT, 08/08/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Merck ( MRK ) said Thursday that it halted the phase 3 trial of its experimental combination therapy to treat patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer based on the recommendation of an independent data monitoring committee.

The company said the trial, which tested a fixed-dose combination of vibostolimab and its blockbuster cancer drug, Keytruda, against atezolizumab combined with chemotherapy, met futility criteria in a pre-planned analysis.

It added that the combination therapy showed higher rates of adverse and immune-related events compared to the control group.

Merck ( MRK ) said it informed the study investigators of the decision to stop the fixed-dose combination treatment and offered patients the option to switch to atezolizumab.

Price: 112.43, Change: -0.06, Percent Change: -0.05