<div id="readability-page-1"><div>By Colin Kellaher A cancer-drug combination from Merck, Pfizer and Astellas Pharma has hit its goal in a second late-stage study in patients with a hard-to-treat form of bladder cancer. The companies on Wednesday said Merck's Keytruda coupled with Padcev from Pfizer and Astellas showed significantly improved survival for patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer who are eligible for cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The study met its primary endpoint, demonstrating clinically meaningful and statistically significant improvements in event-free survival, as well as in overall survival, a key secondary endpoint, the companies said. Merck, Pfizer and Astellas, which in August reported similar results from a Phase 3 study of the combination in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer who are ineligible for cisplatin-based chemotherapy, said they plan to discuss the study results with global health authorities for potential regulatory filings. Merck in 2019 inked a deal to evaluate the combination of its blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda with Padcev from Astellas and Seagen, which Pfizer acquired in a $43 billion deal that closed in late 2023. The combination is already approved for the treatment of adults with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer in the U.S., the European Union, Japan and several other countries around the world. Write to Colin Kellaher at colin.kellaher@wsj.com (END) Dow Jones Newswires12-17-25 0753ET</div></div>

ALPMY

Merck, Pfizer, and Astellas Pharma's drug combo, Keytruda and Padcev, succeeded in a second Phase 3 study for muscle-invasive bladder cancer. The study showed significant improvements in survival rates, meeting primary and secondary endpoints. The companies plan to discuss results with health authorities for regulatory filings. The combination is already approved for advanced urothelial cancer treatment globally.

- Merck, Pfizer, and Astellas Pharma have reported that their cancer-drug combination has succeeded in a second late-stage trial for muscle-invasive bladder cancer.  
- The trial demonstrated significant improvements in event-free and overall survival for patients eligible for cisplatin-based chemotherapy, meeting its primary endpoint.  
- The companies plan to discuss the results with global health authorities for potential regulatory filings, as the combination is already approved for advanced urothelial cancer in several countries.

Merck, Pfizer, Astellas Drug Combo Succeeds in 2nd Phase 3 Bladder Cancer Study