MSD’s anti-PD-L1 therapy Keytruda (pembrolizumab) has been awarded marketing authorisation in Europe for the first-line treatment of adult patients with metastatic squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) when used in combination with carboplatin and either paclitaxel or nab-paclitaxel, it has emerged.
Phase 3 data submitted in support of the application illustrated that the combo “significantly improved overall survival (OS)”, reducing risk of death by 36% compared to chemotherapy alone regardless of a patient’s PD-L1 tumour expression status.
