06:18 AM EDT, 08/12/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Pfizer ( PFE ) and Astellas Pharma said Tuesday that a phase 3 clinical trial of a combination of Padcev and Merck's ( MRK ) Keytruda to treat a certain type of muscle-invasive bladder cancer showed a "clinically meaningful and statistically significant" improvement in event-free survival versus surgery alone.

The companies said an additional secondary endpoint of pathologic complete response rate was also met, based on the first interim efficacy analysis.

The trial is continuing to assess the secondary event-free survival, overall survival and pathologic complete response rate endpoints for neoadjuvant and adjuvant Keytruda versus surgery alone as they continue to mature.

The companies said they will submit the results at an upcoming medical congress and discuss them with global health authorities for potential regulatory filings.