Merck announces results from dose confirmation part of Phase 2/3 waveLINE-003

Merck (MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, announced results from the dose confirmation portion of the Phase 2/3 waveLINE-003 study evaluating zilovertamab vedotin in combination with standard of care rituximab and gemcitabine-oxaliplatin, R-GemOx, for the treatment of relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, DLBCL. Zilovertamab vedotin is an investigational, potential first-in-class antibody drug conjugate that targets receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1. At a pre-planned analysis, zilovertamab vedotin 1.75 mg/kg in combination with R-GemOx achieved a 56.3% objective response rate, ORR, in patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL, with eight complete responses, CR, and one partial response, PR. These data are being presented for the first time today during an oral presentation at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology, ASCO, Annual Meeting.