Anti-PD1 immunotherapy pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®) has been registered by the TGA
20 April 2015
MSD announced that its anti-PD1 immunotherapy pembrolizumab (trade name KEYTRUDA®) has been registered by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for the treatment of the most deadly form of skin cancer – advanced metastatic melanoma. Australia is the first country in the world to register KEYTRUDA for the first line treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma in adults. This will change the future of treatments for all melanoma patients in Australia.
Associate Professor Georgina Long from Melanoma Institute of Australia (MIA) explained that Australian clinicians and institutes have been involved in the clinical trials of anti-PD1 for over three years.
“We are proud to have been involved in the development of this medicine and that hundreds of Australian patients with advanced melanoma have been treated with pembrolizumab. This drug is being investigated for use in other cancers. It is vital we continue to do research such as this to improve the outcomes for cancer patients.”
MIA and affiliates will continue to lobby on behalf of the Australian community to ensure anti-PD1 is added to the PBS which would make it accessible for all Australians with advanced melanoma without delay.
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