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Biomarker-Led Claim Is Small Step For Merck's Keytruda, Giant Leap For Cancer Indications

 
• By Mary Jo Laffler

Accelerated approval for patients with microsatellite instability-high or mismatch repair deficient solid tumors is the first time the US FDA has granted an indication that does not specify the location of the tumor – a change precision medicine researchers have been eager to make.

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FDA's approval of Merck & Co. Inc.'s Keytruda for use in any patient with a solid tumor with a particular genetic mutation is the first of its kind and could herald a new approach to treating cancer.

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More from Approvals

AMR-Targeting Drug Secures EMA PRIME Designation

 
• By Neena Brizmohun

Antabio’s next-generation, broad-spectrum antibacterial, MEM-ANT3310, has made it onto the European Medicines Agency’s priority medicines scheme. The company says its product is designed to make a significant impact on the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance.

New Measures Can Cut Israel’s Drug Approval Time To Just 70 Days

 
• By Neena Brizmohun

Israel has introduced a new framework to expedite the marketing approval of medicines, make the country a more attractive destination for drug registration and help reduce drug prices through market competition.

US FDA’s Review Performance Held Steady Despite Stormy First Quarter

 
• By Bridget Silverman

Organizational turmoil has not yet affected reviews of novel agent applications, with Q1 2025 approvals coming in low, but the first quarter share of the entire year is variable.

New EU Approvals

 
• By Neena Brizmohun

The Pink Sheet's list of EU centralized approvals of new active substances has been updated to include four new products, one of which is Vimkunya, Bavarian Nordic's chikungunya vaccine.

More from Product Reviews

Early Randomization Among Advice On How To Meet Both EMA & HTA Needs

 
• By Neena Brizmohun

Newly published insights from a series of European Medicines Agency workshops can guide drug developers in designing development plans that meet the needs of both regulators and health technology assessment bodies.

Mysimba Passes EU Safety Probe, But Currax Must Explore Long-Term Heart Risks

 
• By Neena Brizmohun

The weight management drug, Mysimba, continues to demonstrate a positive benefit-risk balance but the data available are not sufficient to fully determine the cardiovascular safety beyond 12 months. Meanwhile, Currax this month announced the publication of a peer-reviewed study of Mysimba that followed patients for over 4.7 years and found no evidence of excess cardiovascular risk.

EU CHMP Opinions And MAA Updates

 
• By Neena Brizmohun

This is an update of recommendations from the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use on the authorization of new medicines in the EU, and updates on EU marketing authorization changes recommended by the CHMP.