On May 6, 2014 Merck & Co reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review the Biologics License Application (BLA) for MK-3475, Merck’s investigational anti-PD-1 antibody, for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma in patients who have been previously treated with ipilimumab (Press release Merck & Co, MAY 6, 2014, View Source [SID:1234500607]). The FDA granted Priority Review designation with a PDUFA date of October 28, 2014, and the MK-3475 BLA will be reviewed under the FDA’s Accelerated Approval program. The FDA previously granted MK-3475 Breakthrough Therapy designation for advanced melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer. If approved by the FDA, MK-3475 has the potential to be the first anti-PD-1 antibody in a new class of immune checkpoint modulators.

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Merck also announced it plans to file a Marketing Authorization Application for MK-3475 in Europe for advanced melanoma by the end of 2014.

"Patients with advanced melanoma have few therapeutic options and often fail to respond to all available treatments," said Dr. Roger M. Perlmutter, president, Merck Research Laboratories. "We are hopeful that the FDA, through their priority review of our application, will agree to make MK-3475 available to patients with advanced melanoma who have no other therapeutic options."