See the DrugPatentWatch profile for keytruda

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Keytruda, a medication manufactured by Merck & Co., for widespread cancer treatment on June 12, 2020 [1]. Keytruda, also known as pembrolizumab, is a type of immunotherapy that helps the body's immune system fight cancer [2].

Previously, Keytruda had been approved for treating certain types of cancers, such as melanoma, lung cancer, and head and neck cancer [3]. However, the 2020 approval marked the first time that the FDA had approved Keytruda for use in treating any solid tumor that has a specific genetic biomarker, regardless of the tumor's original location in the body [1].

The FDA's decision was based on data from five clinical trials involving 1,034 patients with 20 different types of cancer [1]. The trials found that patients with tumors that had the genetic biomarker and who received Keytruda had a better response than those who did not receive the drug [1].

The FDA's approval of Keytruda for widespread cancer treatment is a significant milestone in cancer care [1]. It marks a shift towards personalized medicine, where treatments are tailored to a patient's specific genetic makeup rather than the location of the tumor in the body [1].

Sources:

[1] U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2020, June 12). FDA approves first cancer treatment based on a common biomarker rather than location in the body. Retrieved from <https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-cancer-treatment-based-common-biomarker-rather-location-body>

[2] National Cancer Institute. (n.d.). Pembrolizumab. Retrieved from <https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/drugs/pembrolizumab>

[3] DrugPatentWatch. (n.d.). Keytruda (pembrolizumab) patents. Retrieved from <https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/drugs/keytruda>