NICE recommends Keytruda to treat bladder cancer. - Merck Inc.
The National Institute for Care and Health Excellence (NICE) has recommended Keytruda (pembrolizumab) from Merck Inc., to treat locally advanced or metastatic bladder cancer (urothelial carcinoma ) via the Cancer Drugs Fund and subject to positive data from the KEYNOTE 045 trial, subject to a discount from Merck Inc., and to a condition that Keytruda be stopped after uninterrupted two years treatment or earlier if the disease progresses.
KEYNOTE 045 is the phase III study that NICE based its decision on and it showed Keytruda extended overall survival in patients by nearly three months more (10.3 months) than those on chemotherapy (7.4 months). Keytruda is the first immuno-oncology drug to win a recommendation from NICE for bladder cancer.
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