# In first human trial, lower dose of new cancer drug outperformed higher dose

- slug: in-first-human-trial-lower-dose-of-new-cancer-drug-outperformed-higher-dose
- date: 2026-04-20
- category: Biotech & Life Sciences

In a first-human trial, a lower dose of a cancer drug beat a higher one: 55% response at 20 mg/kg versus 44% at 30 mg/kg — nobody has a clean explanation. Merck licensed the drug for $588M upfront.

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