Europe approves pembrolizumab for advanced melanoma

July 22, 2015

News update

The European Commission has approved the immunotherapy pembrolizumab (Keytruda, Merck) for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma for both previously treated and untreated patients.

Pembrolizumab can now be marketed in all 28 European member states at the approved dose of 2 mg/kg every 3 weeks.

In an article on Medscape, Professor Antoni Ribas, who will be speaking at the Melanoma Summit in Auckland 6-7 November 2015 is quoted as stating that “"I hope the drug regulatory agencies around the world act fast on approving pembrolizumab for front-line therapy for metastatic melanoma”. Professor Ribas is based at the University of California, Los Angeles Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.

For further information see:

Article in Medscape: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/848482?nlid=85...

European Commission’s decision: http://ec.europa.eu/transparency/regdoc/?fuseactio...