Merck : Gets FDA Expanded Approval for Keytruda in Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma

By Colin Kellaher

Merck & Co. on Thursday said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the expanded use of its cancer drug Keytruda in certain classical Hodgkin lymphoma, or cHL, indications.

The Kenilworth, N.J., drug maker said the approvals cover the drug as monotherapy for adults with relapsed or refractory cHL and for the treatment of pediatric patients with refractory cHL, or cHL that has relapsed after two or more lines of therapy.

Classical Hodgkin lymphoma accounts for more than 90% of cases of Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system, which is part of the immune system. Merck said an estimated 8,500 people will be diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in the U.S. this year.

Keytruda, a cancer drug that harnesses a patient's immune system to fight tumors, has been approved in several indications in numerous cancers.

Write to Colin Kellaher at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

10-15-20 0730ET