Merck & Co's Keytruda for head and neck cancer granted priority review by US FDA

US drug giant Merck & Co (NYSE: MRK) is a step closer to making Keytruda (pembrolizumab), its already marketed cancer drug, as a treatment for head and neck cancer, available to patients.

The company’s anti-PD-1 therapy, for patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy, has had its supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) accepted by the USA Food and Drug Administration.

It will be assessed under its accelerated approval program, before a target decision date of August 9, after the regulator granted Keytruda priority review