Merck announced that the European Commission has approved a new indication for Keytruda® (pembrolizumab) – first-line treatment of locally advanced unresectable or metastatic human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma in adults whose tumors express PD-L1 (Combined Positive Scope [CPS]≥1), in combination with trastuzumab, fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy.
Merck stated that Keytruda® is the first immunotherapy approved in the EU for the first-line treatment of this patient population. Keytruda is approved globally for the treatment of a large range of cancers. In June 2022 the EC approved Keytruda® for expanded melanoma indications.