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November 12, 2018 6:55 am ET

Approval Would Expand Use of AstraZeneca and Merck’s LYNPARZA to These Patients in the First-Line Setting Following Platinum-Based Chemotherapy

First U.S. Regulatory Submission Acceptance for a PARP Inhibitor as a First-Line Maintenance Treatment for Certain Patients with Advanced Ovarian Cancer

KENILWORTH, N.J.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–AstraZeneca and Merck (NYSE:MRK), known as MSD outside the United States
and Canada, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) has accepted a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for
priority review for the approval of LYNPARZA tablets as a maintenance
treatment in patients with newly-diagnosed, BRCA-mutated (BRCAm)
advanced ovarian cancer who were in complete or partial response
following first-line standard platinum-based chemotherapy. A
Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) date is set for the first quarter
of 2019.

This is the first U.S. regulatory submission acceptance for a poly
ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor in the first-line maintenance
setting for advanced ovarian cancer, and, if approved, will be the
fourth indication for LYNPARZA in the U.S.

This submission was based on positive results from the pivotal Phase 3
SOLO-1 trial. The trial showed a statistically-significant and
clinically-meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) for
LYNPARZA compared to placebo, reducing the risk of disease progression
or death by 70 percent in patients with newly-diagnosed, BRCAm
advanced ovarian cancer who were in complete or partial response to
platinum-based chemotherapy (HR=0.30 [95% CI 0.23-0.41]; p<0.001). With
a median 41 months of follow-up, the median PFS for patients treated
with LYNPARZA (n=260) was not reached compared to 13.8 months for
patients treated with placebo (n=131). Sixty percent of patients
receiving LYNPARZA remained progression-free at 36 months, compared to
27 percent of patients in the placebo arm. These data were recently
presented for the first time at the ESMO 2018 Congress (European Society
for Medical Oncology) and published online in the New England Journal
of Medicine.

LYNPARZA is a first-in-class PARP inhibitor approved in the U.S. since
2014. LYNPARZA has a broad clinical development program and AstraZeneca
and Merck are working together to deliver LYNPARZA as quickly as
possible to more patients across multiple cancer types.

Important Safety Information

Contraindications

There are no contraindications for LYNPARZA.

Warnings and Precautions

Myelodysplastic Syndrome/Acute Myeloid Leukemia (MDS/AML):
Occurred in <1.5% of patients exposed to LYNPARZA monotherapy, and the
majority of events had a fatal outcome. The duration of therapy in
patients who developed secondary MDS/AML varied from <6 months to >2
years. All of these patients had previous chemotherapy with platinum
agents and/or other DNA-damaging agents, including radiotherapy, and
some also had a history of more than one primary malignancy or of bone
marrow dysplasia.

Do not start LYNPARZA until patients have recovered from hematological
toxicity caused by previous chemotherapy (≤Grade 1). Monitor complete
blood count for cytopenia at baseline and monthly thereafter for
clinically significant changes during treatment. For prolonged
hematological toxicities, interrupt LYNPARZA and monitor blood count
weekly until recovery.

If the levels have not recovered to Grade 1 or less after 4 weeks, refer
the patient to a hematologist for further investigations, including bone
marrow analysis and blood sample for cytogenetics. Discontinue LYNPARZA
if MDS/AML is confirmed.

Pneumonitis: Occurred in <1% of patients exposed to LYNPARZA, and
some cases were fatal. If patients present with new or worsening
respiratory symptoms such as dyspnea, cough, and fever, or a
radiological abnormality occurs, interrupt LYNPARZA treatment and
initiate prompt investigation. Discontinue LYNPARZA if pneumonitis is
confirmed and treat patient appropriately.

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: Based on its mechanism of action and
findings in animals, LYNPARZA can cause fetal harm. A pregnancy test is
recommended for females of reproductive potential prior to initiating
treatment.

Females

Advise females of reproductive potential of the potential risk to a
fetus and to use effective contraception during treatment and for 6
months following the last dose.

Males

Advise male patients with female partners of reproductive potential or
who are pregnant to use effective contraception during treatment and for
3 months following the last dose of LYNPARZA and to not donate sperm
during this time.

Adverse Reactions—Maintenance Setting

Most common adverse reactions (Grades 1-4) in ≥20% of patients in
clinical trials of LYNPARZA in the maintenance setting for SOLO-2:
nausea (76%), fatigue (including asthenia) (66%), anemia (44%), vomiting
(37%), nasopharyngitis/upper respiratory tract infection (URI)/influenza
(36%), diarrhea (33%), arthralgia/myalgia (30%), dysgeusia (27%),
headache (26%), decreased appetite (22%), and stomatitis (20%).

Study 19: nausea (71%), fatigue (including asthenia) (63%), vomiting
(35%), diarrhea (28%), anemia (23%), respiratory tract infection (22%),
constipation (22%), headache (21%), and decreased appetite (21%).

Most common laboratory abnormalities (Grades 1-4) in ≥25% of patients in
clinical trials of LYNPARZA in the maintenance setting (SOLO-2/Study 19)
were: increase in mean corpuscular volume (89%/82%), decrease in
hemoglobin (83%/82%), decrease in leukocytes (69%/58%), decrease in
lymphocytes (67%/52%), decrease in absolute neutrophil count (51%/47%),
increase in serum creatinine (44%/45%), and decrease in platelets
(42%/36%).

Adverse Reactions—Advanced gBRCAm Ovarian Cancer

Most common adverse reactions (Grades 1-4) in ≥20% of patients in
clinical trials of LYNPARZA for advanced gBRCAm ovarian cancer
after 3 or more lines of chemotherapy (pooled from 6 studies) were:
fatigue (including asthenia) (66%), nausea (64%), vomiting (43%), anemia
(34%), diarrhea (31%), nasopharyngitis/upper respiratory tract infection
(URI) (26%), dyspepsia (25%), myalgia (22%), decreased appetite (22%),
and arthralgia/musculoskeletal pain (21%).

Most common laboratory abnormalities (Grades 1-4) in ≥25% of patients in
clinical trials of LYNPARZA for advanced gBRCAm ovarian cancer
(pooled from 6 studies) were: decrease in hemoglobin (90%), increase in
mean corpuscular volume (57%), decrease in lymphocytes (56%), increase
in serum creatinine (30%), decrease in platelets (30%), and decrease in
absolute neutrophil count (25%).

Adverse Reactions—gBRCAm, HER2-Negative Breast Cancer

Most common adverse reactions (Grades 1-4) in ≥20% of patients in
OlympiAD were: nausea (58%), anemia (40%), fatigue (including asthenia)
(37%), vomiting (30%), neutropenia (27%), respiratory tract infection
(27%), leukopenia (25%), diarrhea (21%), and headache (20%).

Most common laboratory abnormalities (Grades 1-4) in >25% of patients in
OlympiAD were: decrease in hemoglobin (82%), decrease in lymphocytes
(73%), decrease in leukocytes (71%), increase in mean corpuscular volume
(71%), decrease in absolute neutrophil count (46%), and decrease in
platelets (33%).

Drug Interactions

Anticancer Agents: Clinical studies of LYNPARZA in combination
with other myelosuppressive anticancer agents, including DNA-damaging
agents, indicate a potentiation and prolongation of myelosuppressive
toxicity.

CYP3A Inhibitors: Avoid concomitant use of strong or moderate
CYP3A inhibitors. If a strong or moderate CYP3A inhibitor must be
co-administered, reduce the dose of LYNPARZA. Advise patients to avoid
grapefruit, grapefruit juice, Seville oranges, and Seville orange juice
during LYNPARZA treatment.

CYP3A Inducers: Avoid concomitant use of strong or moderate CYP3A
inducers when using LYNPARZA. If a moderate inducer cannot be avoided,
there is a potential for decreased efficacy of LYNPARZA.

Use In Specific Populations

Lactation: No data are available regarding the presence of
olaparib in human milk, its effects on the breastfed infant or on milk
production. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in
the breastfed infant, advise a lactating woman not to breastfeed during
treatment with LYNPARZA and for 1 month after receiving the final dose.

Pediatric Use: The safety and efficacy of LYNPARZA have not been
established in pediatric patients.

Hepatic Impairment: No adjustment to the starting dose is
required in patients with mild hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh
classification A). There are no data in patients with moderate or severe
hepatic impairment.

Renal Impairment: No adjustment to the starting dose is necessary
in patients with mild renal impairment (CLcr=51-80 mL/min). In patients
with moderate renal impairment (CLcr=31-50 mL/min), reduce the dose to
200 mg twice daily. There are no data in patients with severe renal
impairment or end-stage renal disease (CLcr ≤30 mL/min).

Indications

LYNPARZA is a poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor indicated:

For the maintenance treatment of adult patients with recurrent
epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer, who
are in complete or partial response to platinum-based chemotherapy.

For the treatment of adult patients with deleterious or suspected
deleterious germline BRCA-mutated (gBRCAm) advanced
ovarian cancer who have been treated with 3 or more prior lines of
chemotherapy. Select patients for therapy based on an FDA-approved
companion diagnostic for LYNPARZA.

In patients with deleterious or suspected deleterious gBRCAm, human
epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative metastatic breast
cancer who have previously been treated with chemotherapy in the
neoadjuvant, adjuvant or metastatic setting. Patients with hormone
receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer should have been treated with a
prior endocrine therapy or be considered inappropriate for endocrine
treatment. Select patients for therapy based on an FDA-approved
companion diagnostic for LYNPARZA.

Please see complete

Prescribing
Information

, including Patient Information (Medication Guide).

About the SOLO-1 Phase 3 Trial

SOLO-1 is a Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled,
multi-center trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of LYNPARZA
tablets (300 mg twice daily) as maintenance monotherapy compared
with placebo in newly-diagnosed patients with BRCA-mutated
advanced ovarian cancer following platinum-based chemotherapy. The trial
randomized 391 patients with a deleterious or suspected deleterious BRCA1
or BRCA2 mutation who were in clinical complete or partial
response following platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients were randomized
(2:1) to receive LYNPARZA or placebo for up to two years or until
disease progression (at the investigator’s discretion). The primary
endpoint was investigator-assessed progression-free survival and key
secondary endpoints included time to second disease progression or
death, time to first subsequent treatment and overall survival.

About Ovarian Cancer

Approximately 20,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with ovarian cancer
(including ovarian, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancers) each
year. Among women in the U.S., it is the ninth most common cancer and
the fifth leading cause of cancer death.

The risk of developing ovarian cancer is increased in women with
specific inherited genetic abnormalities, including BRCA
mutations.

About BRCA Mutations

BRCA1 and BRCA2 are human genes that produce proteins
responsible for repairing damaged DNA and play an important role in
maintaining the genetic stability of cells. When either of these genes
is mutated, or altered, such that its protein product either is not made
or does not function correctly, DNA damage may not be repaired properly,
and cells become unstable. As a result, cells are more likely to develop
additional genetic alterations that can lead to cancer.

About LYNPARZA

^®

(olaparib)

LYNPARZA is the first-in-class PARP inhibitor and the first targeted
treatment to potentially exploit DNA damage response (DDR) pathway
deficiencies, such as BRCA mutations, to preferentially kill
cancer cells. Specifically, in vitro studies have shown that
LYNPARZA-induced cytotoxicity may involve inhibition of PARP enzymatic
activity and increased formation of PARP-DNA complexes, resulting in DNA
damage and cancer cell death. LYNPARZA is being tested in a
range of DDR-deficient tumor types.

LYNPARZA, which is being jointly developed and commercialized by
AstraZeneca and Merck, has a broad and advanced clinical trial
development program, and AstraZeneca and Merck are working together to
deliver it as quickly as possible to more patients across multiple
cancer types.

About the AstraZeneca and Merck Strategic Oncology Collaboration

In July 2017, AstraZeneca and Merck, known as MSD outside the United
States and Canada, announced a global strategic oncology collaboration
to co-develop and co-commercialize LYNPARZA, the world’s first PARP
inhibitor, and potential new medicine selumetinib, a MEK inhibitor, for
multiple cancer types. Working together, the companies will develop
LYNPARZA and selumetinib in combination with other potential new
medicines and as monotherapies. Independently, the companies will
develop LYNPARZA and selumetinib in combination with their respective
PD-L1 and PD-1 medicines.

Merck’s Focus on Cancer

Our goal is to translate breakthrough science into innovative oncology
medicines to help people with cancer worldwide. At Merck, the potential
to bring new hope to people with cancer drives our purpose and
supporting accessibility to our cancer medicines is our commitment.

As part of our focus on cancer, Merck is committed to exploring the
potential of immuno-oncology with one of the largest development
programs in the industry across more than 30 tumor types. We also
continue to strengthen our portfolio through strategic acquisitions and
are prioritizing the development of several promising oncology
candidates with the potential to improve the treatment of advanced
cancers.

For more information about our oncology clinical trials, visit www.merck.com/clinicaltrials.

About Merck

For more than a century, Merck, a leading global biopharmaceutical
company known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, has been
inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of
the world’s most challenging diseases. Through our prescription
medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies and animal health products, we
work with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver
innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to
increasing access to health care through far-reaching policies, programs
and partnerships. Today, Merck continues to be at the forefront of
research to advance the prevention and treatment of diseases that
threaten people and communities around the world – including cancer,
cardio-metabolic diseases, emerging animal diseases, Alzheimer’s disease
and infectious diseases including HIV and Ebola. For more information,
visit www.merck.com
and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram,
YouTube
and LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statement of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA

This news release of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA (the
“company”) includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of
the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the current beliefs
and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to
significant risks and uncertainties. There can be no guarantees with
respect to pipeline products that the products will receive the
necessary regulatory approvals or that they will prove to be
commercially successful. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or
risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially
from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

Risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry
conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest
rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of
pharmaceutical industry regulation and health care legislation in the
United States and internationally; global trends toward health care cost
containment; technological advances, new products and patents attained
by competitors; challenges inherent in new product development,
including obtaining regulatory approval; the company’s ability to
accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties
or delays; financial instability of international economies and
sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of the company’s patents
and other protections for innovative products; and the exposure to
litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions.

The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any
forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise. Additional factors that could cause results
to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking
statements can be found in the company’s 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K
and the company’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) available at the SEC’s Internet site (www.sec.gov).

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or
Investors:
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