MSD's Investigational Anti-PD-1 Antibody, Pembrolizumab, Under Regulatory Review in Europe for the Treatment of Advanced Melanoma

MSD's Investigational Anti-PD-1 Antibody, Pembrolizumab, Under Regulatory Review in Europe for the Treatment of Advanced Melanoma

MSD, known as Merck (NYSE:MRK) in the United States and Canada, today announced the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has accepted for review a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for pembrolizumab (MK-3475), the company's investigational anti-PD-1 antibody, for the treatment of advanced melanoma. If approved by the European Commission (EC), pembrolizumab has the potential to be the first anti-PD-1 therapy in Europe. Additional regulatory filings in other countries outside of Europe are planned by the end of 2014.

"With the five-year survival rate for patients with advanced melanoma at less than 20 percent, there remains a need to offer patients additional options," said Dr. Roy Baynes, senior vice president, clinical development, Merck Research Laboratories. "We are pleased to have regulatory applications under review in the United States and Europe as we work toward bringing pembrolizumab to patients around the world."

About Advanced Melanoma

Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer and is the 19(th) most common cause of cancer death in Europe. In 2012, there were an estimated 22,200 deaths from malignant melanoma in Europe. There were an estimated 232,000 new cases of melanoma diagnosed worldwide in 2012.

About Pembrolizumab

Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) is an investigational, selective, humanized, monoclonal anti-PD-1 antibody designed to reactivate anti-tumor immunity. Pembrolizumab exerts dual ligand blockade of the PD-1 pathway by inhibiting the interaction of PD-1 on T cells with its ligands PD-L1 and PD-L2.

Today, pembrolizumab is being evaluated across more than 30 types of cancers, as monotherapy and in combination. It is anticipated that by the end of 2014, the pembrolizumab development program will grow to more than 24 clinical trials, enrolling an estimated 6,000 patients at nearly 300 clinical trial sites worldwide. For information about Merck's oncology clinical studies, please visit http://www.merck.com/clinical-trials/index.html.

The Biologics License Application (BLA) for pembrolizumab is under priority review with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of patients with advanced melanoma previously-treated with ipilimumab; the PDUFA date is October 28, 2014. Pembrolizumab has been granted FDA's Breakthrough Therapy designation for advanced melanoma. If approved by the FDA, pembrolizumab has the potential to be the first anti-PD-1 therapy approved within the United States.

About MSD Oncology

At MSD Oncology, our goal is to translate breakthrough science into biomedical innovations to help people with cancer worldwide. Harnessing immune mechanisms to fight cancer is the priority focus of our oncology research and development program. The Company is advancing a pipeline of immunotherapy candidates and combination regimens. Cancer is one of the world's most urgent unmet medical needs. Helping to empower people to fight cancer is our passion. For information about MSD's commitment to Oncology visit the Oncology Information Center