Keytruda Approved for Advanced or Recurrent Cervical Cancer in Japan

On September 26, 2022, MSD K.K. announced that the anti-PD-1 therapy Keytruda (Pembrolizumab) has received approval in Japan for an expanded indication: the treatment of patients with advanced or recurrent cervical cancer.

Clinical Evidence: KEYNOTE-826 Trial

The approval is supported by the results of the KEYNOTE-826 Phase 3 clinical trial, an international, multicenter, randomized study involving 617 patients with persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer who had not received prior systemic chemotherapy.

Participants were randomized to receive:

1. Keytruda + Chemotherapy (with or without Bevacizumab).
2. Placebo + Chemotherapy (with or without Bevacizumab).

Key Survival Results

The trial demonstrated that the addition of Keytruda to standard chemotherapy significantly improved outcomes:

• Overall Survival (OS): Patients in the Keytruda group experienced a statistically significant prolongation of life compared to the placebo group.
• Progression-Free Survival (PFS): Keytruda also significantly extended the time patients lived without their disease worsening.

Future Outlook

MSD K.K. emphasized its commitment to developing innovative oncology treatments to meet the unmet needs of patients and healthcare professionals in Japan and globally.

Source: MSD K.K. Press Release - Keytruda Approval for Cervical Cancer

#CervicalCancer #Keytruda #Pembrolizumab #KEYNOTE826 #Immunotherapy #CancerResearch #JapanMedicine

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