What type of primary cancer did keytruda initially treat?

Keytruda was first approved by the FDA for advanced melanoma.

What was the first cancer Keytruda treated?
Keytruda (pembrolizumab) received its initial FDA approval in September 2014 for unresectable or metastatic melanoma after progression on prior therapy.

How did Keytruda’s early use expand beyond melanoma?
Soon after launch, regulators cleared it for non-small cell lung cancer in patients whose tumors expressed PD-L1.

When did Keytruda gain broader first-line approvals?
By 2015–2016 the drug moved into earlier lines of therapy for both melanoma and lung cancer, widening its patient population.

Are there still patents covering Keytruda?
Key patents remain in force until at least 2028, keeping generic or biosimilar versions off the market for several years.

Where can you track Keytruda patents and expirations?