Pfizer and Astellas Pharma announced that on January 26 the European Medicines Agency (EMA) validated for review a Type II variation application for PADCEV (enfortumab vedotin) with KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) as a combination therapy for the first-line treatment of adult patients with previously untreated locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer (la/mUC).

If approved, PADCEV with KEYTRUDA has the potential to change the treatment paradigm, becoming the first combination treatment to offer an alternative to platinum-containing chemotherapy, the current standard of care in first-line la/mUC.

Globally, approximately 573,000 new cases of bladder cancer and 212,000 deaths are reported annually.1 It is estimated that approximately 200,000 people in Europe are diagnosed with bladder cancer each year.2

Roger Dansey, M.D., Chief Development Officer, Oncology, Pfizer, said: “The EV-302 pivotal trial demonstrated the benefits of combining PADCEV with pembrolizumab for advanced bladder cancer. Patients with bladder cancer in Europe face poor outcomes at the advanced stage, and innovative therapies that extend survival are needed. This acceptance brings us closer to our mission: delivering breakthroughs that help address the unmet needs of patients and reshape the advanced urothelial cancer treatment landscape.”

Ahsan Arozullah, M.D., M.P.H., Senior Vice President, Head of Oncology Development, Astellas, added: “Patients in Europe need better treatment options for advanced stage urothelial cancer, and we look forward to working with the EMA on their review of the combination of enfortumab vedotin and pembrolizumab. If approved, the combination would be the first alternative to a chemotherapy-based treatment for this patient population. This milestone is another opportunity to affirm our commitment to helping patients with advanced urothelial cancer live longer.”