Merck $MRK (+3,24 %) released positive news on Tuesday about a new, more convenient version of its cancer drug Keytruda. This development comes after a number of setbacks and is particularly important as Keytruda loses its patent protection in 2028. The new subcutaneous Keytruda performed well in a Phase 3 trial and could be a serious competitor to biosimilars, which will be launched in 2028. Shares in Merck rose 0.3%, a small ray of hope for the company, which has struggled recently with problems with its Gardasil vaccine in China. The new formulation could also be exempt from Medicare price negotiations, giving Merck additional pricing power.