By Mary de Moist
Merck stated Friday that Keytruda acquired a constructive opinion from the Committee for Medicinal Merchandise for Human Use of the European Medicines Company that really useful approval of the anti-PD-1 remedy as first-line remedy of sure sorts of colorectal most cancers.
The advice adopted a Part Three trial wherein Keytruda was used as a monotherapy for adults with metastatic microsatellite instability-high or mismatch restore poor colorectal most cancers. The examine demonstrated a major enchancment in progression-free survival in contrast with chemotherapy, Merck stated.
The CHMP’s advice can be reviewed by the European Fee for advertising and marketing authorization within the European Union, and a closing choice is predicted within the first quarter of 2021, Merck stated.
Keytruda will increase the flexibility of the physique’s immune system to assist detect and struggle tumor cells, the corporate stated. The drug is being examined in opposition to different cancers as nicely.
Within the third quarter, Merck reported gross sales of Keytruda have been up 21% to $3.72 billion from a 12 months in the past.
Write to Mary de Moist at mary.dewet@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
12-11-20 0749ET
