Inhibrx said an OX40–Keytruda combination continued to show early clinical promise, with data indicating the regimen doubled response rates in midphase results. The update comes amid broader M&A and partnering attention in immuno-oncology, and Inhibrx noted the program has drawn interest from Merck. The company’s strategy—pairing an immune checkpoint backbone with an additional T-cell–focused agonist—aims to improve response depth in settings where single-agent activity can be limited. For investors and competitors, the key question will be whether these early response signals translate into durable outcomes and clinically meaningful endpoints. As Meridian-like competition intensifies around next-generation immunotherapies, the early midphase readout becomes a gating item for subsequent study design, patient selection, and combination scope.