Posted by Michael Wonder on 01 Feb 2017
European Commission approves Keytruda (pembrolizumab) for first-line treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer whose tumours have high PD-L1 expression with no EGFR or ALK positive tumour mutations
1 February 2017 - First anti-PD-1 therapy approved in Europe for previously untreated patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer.
Merck today announced that the European Commission has approved Keytruda (pembrolizumab), the company’s anti-PD-1 therapy, for the first-line treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in adults whose tumours have high PD-L1 expression (tumour proportion score [TPS] of 50% or more) with no EGFR or ALK positive tumour mutations.
“The approval of Keytruda as a first treatment instead of chemotherapy for patients who express high levels of PD-L1 has the potential to transform the way metastatic non-small cell lung cancer is treated,” said Dr. Roy Baynes, senior vice president, head of clinical development, and chief medical officer, Merck Research Laboratories. “We are committed to ensuring that patients in Europe – who are in need of new treatment options – are able to quickly gain access to Keytruda.”
