Following another phase 3 failure for Gilead Sciences’ Trodelvy, the race to bring a TROP2 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) to patients with first-line non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has narrowed. | Merck & Co. and Gilead are pulling the plug on the phase 3 Evoke-03 trial evaluating Trodelvy, combined with Keytruda, as a first-line treatment in patients with PD-L1-high non-small cell lung cancer.

Merck and Gilead Provide Update on Phase 3 KEYNOTE-D46/EVOKE-03 Study

Trodelvy's latest setback carries implications for a newly important Merck drug, while the success of a once-weekly HIV tablet could boost Gilead's main business.