Merck & Co. and Eisai have to deal with the reality that yet another phase 3 trial of their combination of Keytruda and Lenvima didn’t exactly go their way. | Merck & Co. and Eisai have to deal with the reality that yet another phase 3 trial of their combination of Keytruda and Lenvima didn’t exactly go their way.

Merck and Co. expects to launch an easier-to-administer version of its blockbuster cancer treatment Keytruda before the end of the year.

Merck and Japan-based Eisai said on Friday a combination of their therapies failed to extend the lives of patients with a type of esophageal cancer in a late-stage trial. The trial was studying U.S. drugmaker Merck's blockbuster immunotherapy Keytruda and Eisai's Lenvima,

Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) and Eisai Co., Ltd. (TYO:4523) have announced the latest outcomes from their Phase 3 LEAP-015 trial, which evaluated the efficacy of the combination therapy KEYTRUDA and LENVIMA for patients with advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma.