Merck's Keytruda scores first win in adjuvant kidney cancer, giving it a leg up on checkpoint inhibitor rivals

Merck is making room for yet another use on its Keytruda label — this time, as the first adjuvant immunotherapy for certain renal cell carcinoma patients after they’ve had kidney surgery.

The FDA has approved Keytruda in the adjuvant setting three weeks before its goal date, marking the latest in a streak of label expansions and giving the PD-1 superstar a leg up on its checkpoint inhibitor rivals.