BRIEF—Bavencio first merkel cell carcinoma drug launched in the UK

Germany’s Merck KGaA and US pharma giant Pfizer today announced that Bavencio (avelumab) has been launched in the UK.

This coincides with the first meeting of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Appraisal Committee which will be evaluating the technology appraisal submission over the coming months.

It is the first treatment ever to be licensed for the treatment of metastatic merkel cell carcinoma (mMCC) – a rare and aggressive skin cancer.

The launch of avelumab marks a step-change in the way that mMCC is treated, the companies state.

Until now, the only treatment option for mMCC has been chemotherapy, which has limited efficacy and is not generally well-tolerated by people with mMCC.

In July 2017, avelumab was awarded a Promising Innovative Medicine (PIM) designation by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).