The Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA) recently announced the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval for the use of Imlygic, an immunotherapy drug manufactured by Amgens, for use as a local melanoma treatment. Professionals prescribe Imlygic in order to treat affected areas on the skin and lymph nodes when melanoma has recurred after surgery.
Imlygic -- also known as T-VEC, from talimogene laherparepvec -- was developed to destroy cancer cells. It is the only therapy of its kind to be approved by the FDA. It is injected into tumors. Not only does it kill the tumor cells; it releases GM-CSF, an agent that stimulates the immune system.
This is the 10th new melanoma therapy approved by the FDA over the last five years, a milestone Dr. Robin Davisson, MRA's president and CEO-elect, called "a truly unprecedented rate of progress."
Studies are ongoing to evaluate T-VEC in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors.
"The FDA's approval of another new immunotherapy drug is an important step forward in our fight against cancer, which still has a long way to go," Debra Black, MRA co-founder and chair of the board, said. "We must continue to push the boundaries of scientific discovery to one day end death and suffering caused by melanoma."
MRA is a public charity that was founded in 2007 by the Milken Institute and funded by Debra and Leon Black. To date, it has provided nearly $68 million to melanoma research programs.
