Bladder Cancer Accelerated Approvals: Merck’s Keytruda and Genentech’s Tecentriq Each May Have One Last Lifeline

US FDA will ask advisory committee whether data from the trial supporting full approval of Merck’s Keytruda for second-line setting can be used to confirm clinical benefits for earlier setting of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma who are not eligible for cisplatin-containing chemotherapy following a failed confirmatory study. Genentech’s Tecentriq is also at risk of losing its accelerated approval in that space but it could buy some time as its confirmatory study is not yet complete. New competitor entrant since accelerated approvals also lessens degree of unmet need.