Since 2011, the FDA has approved 10 therapies for advanced or late-stage melanoma. Recently the agency granted an additional approval to one of those drugs for the earlier stage melanoma setting.
On Dec. 3, the FDA approved Merck & Co., Inc.’s programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) inhibitor Keytruda (pembrolizumab) for the adjuvant treatment of people at least 12 years old with stage IIB or IIC melanoma following complete resection. The agency also expanded the indication for the agent’s use as an adjuvant treatment of stage III melanoma following complete resection to include pediatric patients at least 12 years old.