US pharmaceutical company Merck has successfully completed a late - stage trial for its new drug , which has enabled patients with oesophageal cancer to live longer . Keytruda , a PD-1 inhibitor that blocks a tumour 's ability to avoid detection by cancer - fighting cells , is already approved for the treatment of several cancers , including breast and lung cancer . Oesophageal cancer is the seventh most common type found throughout the world .
US pharmaceutical company Merck has successfully completed a late-stage trial for its Keytruda drug, which has enabled patients with oesophageal cancer to live longer. Keytruda, a PD-1 inhibitor that blocks a tumour's ability to avoid detection by cancer-fighting cells, is already approved for the treatment of several cancers, including skin and lung cancer. Oesophageal cancer is the seventh most common type diagnosed throughout the world.