Merck stock jumps as Keytruda combo trials boost cancer pipeline

Shares of Merck & Co. (MRK) rose 5% on Friday after the pharmaceutical giant reported positive developments across multiple oncology programs, reinforcing investor confidence in its efforts to extend the dominance of blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda ahead of looming patent expirations later this decade. The rally followed encouraging Phase 3 clinical trial results involving sacituzumab tirumotecan, or sac-TMT, an antibody-drug conjugate developed in partnership with Sichuan Kelun-Biotech Biopharmaceutical.