Keytruda Cements Cervical Cancer Leadership With First-Line Nod

Although the label’s PD-L1 expression requirement could limit the addressable market, there is also potential for future combination with Seagen’s recently approved Tivdak.

Competitive edge and business advantage concept as a group of hot air balloons racing to the top but an individualleader with a small balloon attached giving the winning competitor an extra boost.
Keytruda became the first drug in nearly a decade to get an approval in first-line cervical cancer • Source: Shutterstock

The US Food and Drug Administration’s approval of Merck & Co., Inc.’s Keytruda (pembrolizumab) as a first-line treatment for persistent, recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer makes the PD-1 inhibitor the first new drug in that setting in nearly a decade and raises the possibility of future combination with Seagen Inc. ’s tissue factor-targeting antibody-drug conjugate Tivdak (tisotumab vedotin).

The FDA approved Keytruda combined with chemotherapy, with or without Roche Holding AG’s Avastin (bevacizumab), in first-line cervical cancer...

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