What type of cancer did keytruda primarily target during initial release?

What cancers did Keytruda initially target?

When Keytruda, also known as pembrolizumab, was first approved by the FDA in 2014, it primarily targeted two types of cancer: melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the FDA granted accelerated approval for Keytruda based on its ability to shrink tumors in 21% of patients with melanoma who had progressed on other treatments [1].

Why melanoma?

Melanoma was a key focus for Keytruda's initial development, thanks in part to a significant breakthrough in the immunotherapy space. In 2010, a clinical trial known as the Keynote-001 trial showed that the drug could induce partial or complete responses in a third of melanoma patients. However, at the time, it was not clear whether Keytruda would be effective against NSCLC [2].

NSCLC connection

The connection to NSCLC came later. In 2014, a phase 1 trial called Zephyr showed that Keytruda shrank tumors in 20% of NSCLC patients, leading to further research [3]. This ultimately paved the way for the FDA approval of Keytruda for this condition in February 2015.

Source

[1] [DrugPatentWatch.com (Source for Keytruda approval)] (https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/patents/Keytruda)

References

[1] FDA approves Keytruda for certain types of melanoma and lung cancer. (September 4, 2014). FDA News Release.

[2] Robert C, et al. Phase 1b multicenter study of pembrolizumab (MK-3475) in patients (pts) with advanced melanoma. J Clin Oncol, 31(15 suppl), 2013.

[3] Garon EB, et al. Safety and activity of anti-PD-1 antibody in patients with advanced cancer. N Engl J Med, 366(26), 2012.