Brasília – The National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) has approved expanded therapeutic indications for two immunotherapy drugs used in cancer care, broadening their clinical applications for patients in Brazil. Keytruda (pembrolizumab), previously registered in the country for melanoma, is now approved for use in combination with standard chemotherapy — with or without bevacizumab — to treat patients with platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian carcinoma, offering a new treatment option for a subgroup with limited alternatives. The updated indications were published in the Diário Oficial da União on February 23.

Imfinzi (durvalumab) also received a new indication, enabling its use in combination with FLOT chemotherapy for patients with resectable gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma. The drug’s previous approvals included treatment of locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma following progression after platinum-based chemotherapy. The expanded labels reflect growing evidence supporting the use of immunotherapy agents in earlier disease settings and in combination regimens across solid tumors.

Source: ANVISA