09:04 AM EST, 02/06/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Merck ( MRK ) said Thursday that it has initiated a pivotal phase 3 clinical trial evaluating zilovertamab vedotin, an investigational antibody-drug conjugate to treat patients with previously untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

The company said the trial will combine zilovertamab vedotin with rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and prednisone, compared with rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone.

Merck ( MRK ) said patient enrollment for the trial has already begun.