Merck Wins FDA Nod for Combo Therapy in Advanced Kidney Cancer

Merck’s blockbuster immunotherapy has notched FDA approval for treating the most serious cases of kidney cancer.

The FDA on Monday approved Merck (NYSE: MRK) drug pembrolizumab (Keytruda) in combination with Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) drug axitinib (Inlyta) as a first-line treatment for advanced renal call carcinoma—kidney cancer that has spread or grown, despite earlier treatments.