Posted by Michael Wonder on 14 Aug 2025
Health Canada approves Keytruda for patients with resectable locally advanced head & neck squamous cell carcinoma tumours that are PD-L1 (CPS) positive as neo-adjuvant treatment, continued as adjuvant treatment combined with radiotherapy with or without cisplatin then as monotherapy
13 August 2025 - Approval is based on KEYNOTE-689 Phase III clinical trial results.
Merck announced today that Health Canada has granted approval for Keytruda (pembrolizumab) for the treatment of adult patients with resectable locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma whose tumours express PD-L1 (Combined Positive Score ≥ 1), as determined by a validated test, as neo-adjuvant treatment as monotherapy, continued as adjuvant treatment in combination with radiotherapy with or without cisplatin and then as monotherapy.
