Lung cancer is one of the most deadly forms of cancer worldwide. The traditional treatment for lung cancer includes chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery.

However, recently, there have been great strides in immune-based therapies that involve using the body’s immunity to fight off cancer cells. Merck has been actively working on developing immune-based therapies for lung cancer, and this article will discuss their research findings.

What is Immune-based Therapy for Lung Cancer?

Immune-based therapy, also known as immunotherapy, is a type of treatment that uses the patient’s immune system to attack cancer cells.

Unlike chemotherapy, which uses drugs to kill cancer cells directly, immunotherapy boosts the body’s natural defenses against cancer cells. There are several types of immune-based therapies being developed for lung cancer, including checkpoint inhibitors, vaccines, and adoptive cell transfer therapies.

Merck’s Research on Immune-based Therapy for Lung Cancer

Merck has been working on several immune-based therapies for lung cancer. The most promising is pembrolizumab, also known as Keytruda.

Keytruda is a checkpoint inhibitor that blocks the PD-1 protein on T cells, which prevents these cells from attacking cancer cells. In trials, Keytruda has shown to be effective in treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients who have failed chemotherapy treatment. The drug has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of advanced NSCLC.

Merck’s researchers have also been working on developing other immune-based therapies for lung cancer, including vaccines that target specific proteins on cancer cells and adoptive cell transfer therapies that involve infusing the patient’s own immune cells into their body to attack cancer cells.

Results of Merck’s Research

Merck’s research has shown that immune-based therapies are a promising avenue for treating lung cancer. In clinical trials, Keytruda has shown to be effective in treating patients with NSCLC who have failed chemotherapy treatment.

The drug also causes fewer side effects than traditional treatments, which can be debilitating for patients.

Merck’s other immune-based therapies are still in the early stages of development, but early results have shown promise.

For example, in a phase 1 clinical trial, a vaccine called MAGE-A3 showed a 27% reduction in the risk of cancer recurrence in patients with NSCLC who received the vaccine compared to the placebo group. Merck’s adoptive cell transfer therapy has also shown promise in the treatment of solid tumors, including lung cancer.

Conclusion

Merck’s research on immune-based therapies for lung cancer is promising. Keytruda has already been approved by the FDA for the treatment of advanced NSCLC, and other therapies are in the pipeline.

The fewer side effects of these treatments compared to traditional treatments make them a viable option for many patients. Immune-based therapies represent a significant advancement in the treatment of lung cancer and other solid tumors.