Nov 20,2019: For the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic or unresectable recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) whose tumors express PD-L1 (combined positive score [CPS] ≥1),Merk announced that the European Commission has approved KEYTRUDA(pembrolizumab) as Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, a monotherapy or in combination with platinum and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU).
This approval based on reports from the pivotal Phase 3 KEYNOTE-048 trial, in which KEYTRUDA, compared with standard treatment (cetuximab with carboplatin or cisplatin plus 5-FU), demonstrated a significant enhancement in overall survival (OS) as monotherapy and in combination with chemotherapy in patients whose tumors expressed PD-L1 (CPS ≥1).
From this disease patient’s appearance and their daily functions, such as eating and speaking get affected.
KEYTRUDA monotherapy and combination regimen cover the market of all 28 EU member states plus including Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway.KEYTRUDA 200 mg injection (IV) for every three weeks. https://www.mrknewsroom.com/news-release/oncology/european-commission-approves-two-new-regimens-mercks-keytruda-pembrolizumab-fi
