Keytruda (pembrolizumab), a medication developed by Merck & Co., was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on September 4, 2014 [1]. The approval was granted for the treatment of advanced melanoma in patients whose disease progressed after other therapies [1]. This marked a significant milestone in the field of cancer immunotherapy.

Keytruda is a type of drug known as a programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) blocking antibody, which helps the body's immune system fight cancer cells [2]. The FDA's accelerated approval of Keytruda was based on the results of a clinical trial that demonstrated a significant improvement in overall survival and response rates compared to chemotherapy [1].

For more information about Keytruda and its patents, please visit DrugPatentWatch.com [3].

Sources:
[1] U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2014). FDA approves new treatment for advanced skin cancer. <https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-new-treatment-advanced-skin-cancer>
[2] National Cancer Institute. (2021). Pembrolizumab. <https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/drugs/pembrolizumab>
[3] DrugPatentWatch.com. (n.d.). Keytruda (pembrolizumab). <https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/drugs/keytruda>