Phase 3 trial: sac-TMT cuts death risk by about a third in advanced endometrial cancer
Results of a randomized phase 3 trial of sacituzumab tirumotecan (sac-TMT), developed by Merck and Kelun-Biotech, were presented in Madrid on 26 October. They show lower risks of progression and death than chemotherapy in advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Randomized phase 3 results presented in Madrid on Monday 26 October showed that sacituzumab tirumotecan (sac-TMT) cut the risk of death by one-third in patients with advanced endometrial cancer. STATN “cut by one-third the risk of death in patients with advanced endometrial cancer, a common gynecological cancer, according to randomized Phase 3 study results presented Monday.” Read at STAT ↗ New York PostR “a 32% lower overall risk of death” Read at New York Post ↗ Centre · 1STAT says the drug was developed by Merck and China's Kelun-Biotech. It says sac-TMT has already shown survival benefits across several cancer types in studies Kelun ran in China, where it is approved. STATN “has already shown survival-extending benefits for patients across multiple cancer types in studies conducted by Kelun in China, where it’s approved.” Read at STAT ↗ Right · 1The New York Post reports that the study was led by researchers from NYU Langone Health and its Perlmutter Cancer Center. It compared sac-TMT with standard chemotherapy in advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer in women who had already received a PD-1 inhibitor. New York PostR “Led by researchers from NYU Langone Health and its Perlmutter Cancer Center, the landmark international study”“in women who had already been treated with an established PD-1 inhibitor drug” Read at New York Post ↗
Right · 1According to the Post, patients on sac-TMT had a 41% lower risk of cancer progression and a 32% lower overall risk of death. Also according to the Post, 35% of them responded to treatment, including tumour shrinkage, which is more than twice the rate with chemotherapy. New York PostR “had a 41% lower risk of their cancer progressing and spreading to other parts of the body than chemo alone, and a 32% lower overall risk of death.”“35% of women treated with sac-TMT showed positive responses, including tumor shrinkage, more than twice that of those who underwent standard chemotherapy.” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1The most frequent side effects were low blood counts, mouth inflammation and dry or itchy eyes. The researchers described all adverse effects as manageable. New York PostR “the most frequent ones including low blood counts, inflammation in the mouth and dry or itchy eyes.”“the researchers reported all of the adverse effects were manageable.” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1Principal investigator Bhavana Pothuri said in a press release that the results establish the drug "as a new standard treatment in recurrent endometrial cancer". She added that clinical guidelines will need to be reassessed to include it. New York PostR “establishes this drug as a new standard treatment in recurrent endometrial cancer,” study principal investigator Bhavana Pothuri said in a press release.”““clinical guidelines for endometrial cancer will need to be reassessed to incorporate sacituzumab tirumotecan.”” Read at New York Post ↗
Right · 1Sac-TMT is an antibody-drug conjugate that targets the Trop-2 protein on endometrial cancer cells. The Post says the results suggest it may also work in other Trop-2-rich cancers, such as lung, breast, ovarian and intestinal tumours. New York PostR “Sac-TMT is designed to attach to the trophoblast cell-surface antigen 2 (Trop-2) protein”“such as lung, breast, ovarian and intestinal tumors.” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1The Post notes that Merck's TroFuse-005 trial, announced in May, was the first global trial to show statistically significant improvement over chemotherapy. That trial enrolled more than 770 patients. Merck disclosed no figures for survival benefit, response rate or side-effect rates at that time. New York PostR “The TroFuse-005 trial was the first global trial to “demonstrate statistically significant improvement” from sacituzumab tirumotecan compared to chemotherapy”“More than 770 patients with endometrial cancer received either sac-TMT every two weeks” Read at New York Post ↗ Centre · 1STAT adds commercial context. Merck is running 18 global phase 3 studies of sac-TMT, 10 of them in women's cancers, to support approvals outside China. The drug is central to Merck's plans to replace revenue lost when Keytruda loses patent protection in 2028. STATN “Merck is conducting 18 global Phase 3 studies of sac-TMT, including 10 studies in women’s cancers”“when Keytruda, its blockbuster immunotherapy, loses patent protection in 2028.” Read at STAT ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- A business and biotech report that treats the result as a Merck and Kelun-Biotech drug-development milestone.
- Emphasis
- The one-third cut in risk of death, the approval status in China, Merck's 18 phase 3 studies and the Keytruda patent cliff.
- Leaves out or plays down
- The text is cut off by a paywall after the lede and context. Within it, there are no progression or response figures, no side effects and no mention of NYU Langone.
- Charged language
- “blockbuster”
- For example
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“The drug plays a crucial role in Merck’s efforts to replace revenue that will be lost when Keytruda, its blockbuster immunotherapy, loses patent protection in 2028.” — STAT
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- A consumer-health story built on a hopeful 'breakthrough' for women with a 'devastating disease', drawn largely from the NYU Langone press release.
- Emphasis
- Efficacy figures, the investigator's claim of a new standard of care, patient hope, and possible use in other cancers.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the Kelun-Biotech partnership, Merck's commercial stakes or the Keytruda patent expiry. The headline's 90K figure differs from the 97,000 in the text.
- Charged language
- “breakthrough”“devastating disease”“landmark”
- For example
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“A breakthrough treatment has made significant progress, showing promising results in decreasing recurrence and death from a devastating disease.” — New York Post
What every side reports
- Phase 3 results for sac-TMT in advanced endometrial cancer were reported on 26 October 2026.
- The risk of death was about one-third lower with sac-TMT (32% in the Post's figures).
- Sac-TMT was compared with chemotherapy, and Merck is involved in its development.
Where accounts differ
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Annual death toll from the disease
- Centre
- STAT gives no death toll.
- Right
- The Post's headline says it kills 90K a year, but its text says more than 97,000 people a year worldwide.
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Who led the trial
- Centre
- STAT attributes the drug and the study to Merck and Kelun-Biotech and does not mention NYU Langone.
- Right
- The Post presents it as led by NYU Langone Health and its Perlmutter Cancer Center, and describes it as similar to Merck's separate TroFuse-005 trial.
NYU Langone Health organisation
NYU Langone investigators present the results as establishing sac-TMT as a new standard treatment, and say guidelines should be reassessed.
“establishes this drug as a new standard treatment in recurrent endometrial cancer,” study principal investigator Bhavana Pothuri said in a press release.” — New York Post
Merck organisation
Per STAT, Merck is pursuing sac-TMT with Kelun-Biotech through 18 global phase 3 studies and counts on it to offset the loss of Keytruda revenue. Per the Post, Merck said its earlier TroFuse-005 trial showed statistically significant improvement over chemotherapy.
“Merck is conducting 18 global Phase 3 studies of sac-TMT, including 10 studies in women’s cancers” — STAT
“according to a Merck press release” — New York Post
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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STATN ·
STAT+: Merck ADC drug cut risk of death by one-third in advanced endometrial cancer
Neutral Concise industry report on the headline survival result, set within Merck's pipeline and patent-expiry strategy.
Right1 article
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New breakthrough in fight against devastating disease that kills 90K a year
Celebratory Hopeful, press-release-driven account of a 'breakthrough' with detailed efficacy numbers and quotes from investigators.
- 26 Oct 14:50 First New York PostR New breakthrough in fight against devastating disease that kills 90K a year
- 26 Oct 15:30 +40m STATN STAT+: Merck ADC drug cut risk of death by one-third in advanced endometrial cancer
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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