Priority review sets up battle of the Mercks in rare skin cancer

4 September 2018

US-based Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK) has won priority review in the USA for a new supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for Keytruda (pembrolizumab).

The decision means the firm’s application to market the drug for certain Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) patients will be given special attention by the US regulator. MCC is a rare and aggressive form of skin cancer.

Currently, German rival Merck KGaA (MRK: DE) and New York’s Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) are the only firms with an approved medication in this class to treat the indication, with Bavencio (avelumab).

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