FDA Approves Merck's Keytruda to Treat Cancers With Genetic Defects
May 23 2017 - 3:19PM
Dow Jones News
By Peter Loftus
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday approved Merck
& Co.'s Keytruda drug to treat tumors with a certain genetic
defect -- the first time the agency has cleared a cancer drug for a
use not tied to the site of a tumor.
The FDA approved Keytruda to treat advanced solid tumors with
genetic defects known as "microsatellite instability" or "mismatch
repair" deficiencies. A study showed the drug shrank tumors in a
significant number of patients with colorectal and 14 other cancer
types that had the genetic defect.
Merck's Keytruda, which works by harnessing the body's immune
system to attack tumors, has previously been approved to treat
several site-specific tumors, including those of the skin and
lung.
Write to Peter Loftus at peter.loftus@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
May 23, 2017 16:04 ET (20:04 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2017 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Merck (NYSE:MRK)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
Merck (NYSE:MRK)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024
