Merck reports Phase 3 win for sac-TMT in endometrial cancer

Merck says its Phase 3 TroFuse-005 trial of sacituzumab tirumotecan, or sac-TMT, met its primary endpoints in certain patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer, with statistically significant improvements in overall survival and progression-free survival versus physician’s choice of doxorubicin or paclitaxel. The company said the study enrolled patients whose disease had progressed after platinum-based chemotherapy and anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy, and that objective response rate, a key secondary endpoint, was also met. Merck described sac-TMT as the first TROP2-directed antibody-drug conjugate to improve both overall survival and progression-free survival in this setting in a global Phase 3 study. The drug is investigational and is being developed with Kelun-Biotech. (merck.com)

Why it matters: While this is a human oncology story rather than a veterinary one, it’s still relevant to animal health professionals tracking the broader oncology pipeline, especially around antibody-drug conjugates and TROP2-targeted approaches. Positive late-stage data in a hard-to-treat, post-platinum, post-immunotherapy population reinforces how quickly ADC platforms are expanding across solid tumors, and Merck is already advancing sac-TMT across multiple cancers, including cervical, bladder, ovarian, gastric, and lung indications. That kind of platform momentum can shape comparative oncology research, partnership activity, and expectations for future translational work that may eventually influence veterinary cancer care. (merck.com)

What to watch: Watch for full data disclosure, likely at a medical meeting or in a publication, along with any regulatory filing plans from Merck following the May 18, 2026 announcement. (merck.com)