'Simply not good enough, PBAC'

The PBAC has knocked back MSD's bid for Keytruda to have a broad listing for all TGA-registered indications, with MSD challenging the "bewildering" reason given.

At its July meeting, the PBAC rejected MSD's proposal for a multi-indication listing for Keytruda in a range of advanced or metastatic cancers, for which the pharma has been pushing for a number of years alongside a similar proposal from BMS for its Opdivo and Yervoy combination.

"It's simply not good enough that after eight years of churn, the committee's answer to the pleas of the Australian cancer community for more affordable and equitable access to cancer care is an outright 'no'," MSD Australia and New Zealand Managing Director, Chifumi Umeda, said.