China approves first anti-PD-1 for melanoma

China's State Drug Administration approved Keytruda pembrolizumab from Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK) to treat unresectable or metastatic melanoma following failure of one prior line of therapy. According to the pharma, it is the first anti-PD-1 mAb approved in China for advanced melanoma. Merck said it plans to launch Keytruda in China next quarter, but did not disclose pricing.

Merck's application for Keytruda, which had received Priority Review, included data from the Chinese Phase Ib KEYNOTE-151 trial...