The FDA has approved Bavencio (avelumab) in combination with Inlyta (axitinib) for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The decision was announced by the drug’s co-developers Merck KGaA and Pfizer, and marks the first FDA approval for an anti-PD-L1 therapy as part of a combination regimen in this indication.
Around 20-30% of new diagnoses in RCC are made at an advanced stage, and almost a tired of early-stage diagnoses go on to develop metastases, meaning there is a considerable unmet need for first-line treatment which safely delay progression of the disease.
