22 January 2019 - PTAC reviewed an application from Merck Sharpe and Dohme for the funding of pembrolizumab in combination with chemotherapy for first-line treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer.
The Committee recommended that pembrolizumab in combination with chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumour aberrations be funded with a medium priority.
The Committee recommended that the application be referred to the Cancer Treatment Subcommittee of PTAC (CaTSoP) for advice regarding the lung cancer treatment landscape, potential placement of pembrolizumab combination regimens in the treatment paradigm, appropriate Special Authority criteria, and further consideration of use of PD-L1 expression as a biomarker.