Pembrolizumab for adjuvant treatment of completely resected stage 3 melanoma

1.1 Pembrolizumab is recommended, within its marketing authorisation, as an option for the adjuvant treatment of completely resected stage 3 melanoma with lymph node involvement in adults. It is recommended only if the company provides pembrolizumab according to the commercial arrangement.

Why the committee made this recommendation

Until recently, standard care for people with completely resected melanoma was routine surveillance. Adjuvant treatments such as nivolumab are now available for some people.

Clinical evidence shows that adjuvant pembrolizumab increases how long people live without the cancer coming back compared with placebo. There is still not enough data to know how much pembrolizumab increases how long people live.

Because of this uncertainty the cost-effectiveness estimates vary. However, the most likely estimates are within what NICE considers an acceptable use of NHS resources. Therefore, pembrolizumab is recommended.