On November 24, 2025 Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, reported that new data across multiple hematologic malignancies will be presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting and Exposition in Orlando, Fla. from Dec. 6-9. The data shared at the meeting will highlight the company’s ongoing commitment to advancing clinical research in hematology across Merck’s expanding and diverse pipeline of investigational candidates, with more than 20 abstracts being presented.
Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:
Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing
Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!
"The data we’re sharing at ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) 2025 reflect the continued growth and evolution of our promising hematology pipeline," said Dr. Gregory Lubiniecki, vice president, global clinical development, Merck Research Laboratories. "We continue to build on our leadership in oncology by advancing a diverse portfolio of investigational candidates and exploring novel modalities with the goal of improving outcomes and helping to address significant unmet needs for patients with hematologic neoplasms and malignancies."
Data presentations will feature Merck’s pipeline candidates, including: MK-1045, an investigational CD19xCD3 T-cell engager; bomedemstat (MK-3543), an investigational, orally available lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) inhibitor; and nemtabrutinib (MK-1026), an investigational, non-covalent Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor. Additionally, Merck will present new and updated results highlighting zilovertamab vedotin (MK-2140), an investigational antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) that targets receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1 (ROR1).
Key data from Merck’s pipeline to be presented at the ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) 2025 Annual Meeting and Exposition:
– First presentation by Merck of updated results from the dose escalation and expansion portion of a Phase 1b/2 study assessing the efficacy and safety of MK-1045 in adults with relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Abstract #647)
– First-time results from the Phase 2 Shorespan-004 study evaluating bomedemstat for patients with polycythemia vera (PV) resistant or intolerant to cytoreductive therapy (Abstract #83)
– Initial results from an exploratory analysis of the BELLWAVE-003 study of acquired resistance and prognostic mutations in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) treated with nemtabrutinib (Abstract #797)
Details on abstracts listed above and additional key abstracts for Merck:
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Updated results from the Phase 1b/2 study of MK-1045, a novel CD19xCD3 T-cell engager, in adult participants with relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Y. Wang.
Abstract #647, Oral session, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemias: Therapies Excluding Allogeneic Transplantation
Polycythemia vera
Efficacy and safety of the LSD1 inhibitor bomedemstat in participants with polycythemia vera (PV) resistant or intolerant to cytoreductive therapy: the Phase 2 Shorespan-004 study. L. Rein.
Abstract #83, Oral session, Myeloproliferative Syndromes: Clinical and Epidemiological
Essential thrombocythemia
Shorespan-017: Phase 3 extension study for safety of bomedemstat in participants with essential thrombocythemia who received bomedemstat from a prior clinical study. M. Marchetti.
Abstract #2033, Poster session, Myeloproliferative Syndromes: Clinical and Epidemiological
Chronic lymphocytic & small lymphocytic lymphoma
Genomic assessment of acquired mutations in participants with CLL/SLL treated with nemtabrutinib in the Phase 2 BELLWAVE-003 study. T. Kipps.
Abstract #797, Oral session, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Clinical and Epidemiological
Nemtabrutinib plus venetoclax in relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma: results from the dose escalation and confirmation segment of the Phase 3 BELLWAVE-010 study. P. Ghia.
Abstract #2119, Poster session, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Clinical and Epidemiological
Marginal zone lymphoma
Phase 2 BELLWAVE-003 Cohort F: Updated clinical outcomes of nemtabrutinib in participants with relapsed or refractory marginal zone lymphoma. M. Ozcan.
Abstract #1801, Poster session, Mantle Cell, Follicular, Waldenstrom’s, and Other Indolent B Cell Lymphomas: Clinical and Epidemiological
Follicular lymphoma
Nemtabrutinib in participants with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma: updated efficacy and safety from Cohort G of the Phase 2 BELLWAVE-003 study. W. Jurczak.
Abstract #3570, Poster session, Mantle Cell, Follicular, Waldenstrom’s, and Other Indolent B Cell Lymphomas: Clinical and Epidemiological
Phase 1 study of MK-1045, a novel CD19xCD3 T-cell engager, in participants with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma. Y. Song.
Abstract #5372, Poster session, Mantle Cell, Follicular, Waldenstrom’s, and Other Indolent B Cell Lymphomas: Clinical and Epidemiological
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
Phase 2/3 trial of zilovertamab vedotin plus standard of care in relapsed/ refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: updated analysis of waveLINE-003. P. Armand.
Abstract #3745, Poster session, Aggressive Lymphomas, Immunotherapy including Bispecific Antibodies
Phase 2 trial of zilovertamab vedotin in combination with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone plus rituximab in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: updated analysis of waveLINE-007. M. Ladetto.
Abstract #5516, Poster session, Aggressive Lymphomas, Immunotherapy including Bispecific Antibodies
Phase 1 study of MK-1045, a novel CD19xCD3 T-cell engager, in participants with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Y. Song.
Abstract #3740, Poster session, Aggressive Lymphomas, Immunotherapy including Bispecific Antibodies
(Press release, Merck & Co, NOV 24, 2025, View Source [SID1234660900])