A Dutch court has ordered Merck to stop manufacturing and marketing the subcutaneous formulation of its cancer drug Keytruda in several European countries. The ruling finds that Merck infringed a patent held by Halozyme Therapeutics regarding the specific delivery method for the medication.
The court's decision applies to France, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, and the Netherlands. This legal action is part of a broader patent infringement dispute between the two companies over Keytruda, which is described as a best-selling cancer treatment. The subcutaneous formulation allows the drug to be administered via injection under the skin rather than through an IV line.
Patients who rely on Keytruda will retain access to the existing intravenous version of the drug. That formulation is not subject to the patent dispute or the court order. Merck has been contacted for comment on the ruling, and the story will be updated as responses are received.