It’s Here: Merck’s Keytruda Cleared For First-Line Lung Cancer

The event that the oncology market has been waiting for has arrived. FDA approved Merck’s PD-1 inhibitor Keytruda for first-line treatment of non-small cell lung cancer, a paradigm-changing event that opens up the largest sales segment for immuno-oncology.

The FDA approval of Merck’s PD-1 inhibitor Keytruda (pembrolizumab) for first-line treatment of non-small cell lung cancer is the start of a new treatment paradigm for lung cancer that will have broad effects on the competitive landscape.

Merck announced a two-part approval late Oct. 24. First, FDA approved Keytruda for first-line treatment of patients with metastatic non-small...