Merck & Co. has long been known for its cancer drug Keytruda. But with Keytruda’s patents set to expire soon, Merck is exploring new paths in cancer research. ‘In the past, everything was about Keytruda,’ said Dr. Alex Snyder, Merck’s senior vice president and head of translational medicine and discovery oncology. ‘Now, it’s time for Merck to diversify into different technologies.’ Merck has recently invested in new treatments, such as a $700 million deal for a blood cancer drug from Curon Biopharmaceutical and a $680 million deal for Harpoon Therapeutics, which specializes in T cell engagers. Merck’s approach is unique, as it considers both internal and external drug candidates as part of the same pipeline. The company is focusing on precision oncology, targeting specific patient groups and pairing new drugs with existing ones. One notable success is Keytruda combined with Pfizer and Astellas’ Padcev, which reduced the risk of death by 50% in bladder cancer patients. Looking ahead, Merck is focusing on three main areas: immunotherapy, tissue-targeting therapies, and tumor-intrinsic therapies. While Keytruda remains a key immunotherapy, Merck is also developing other immune-targeting drugs like gocatamig, which is being tested for lung cancer. In tissue-targeting therapies, Merck’s sacituzumab tirumotecan (sac-TMT) is in late-stage trials for multiple cancers and is expected to be a major growth driver by 2027. In tumor-intrinsic therapies, Merck is targeting KRAS mutations, which are common in cancer. The company is testing its KRAS G12C inhibitor calderasib in lung and colorectal cancer, as well as in combination with other drugs. ‘It’s exciting to see progress in treating KRAS tumors, which were once thought to be untreatable,’ said Snyder.