September 4 — Merck said China’s NMPA approved its PD‑1 inhibitor pembrolizumab
for adults with resectable locally advanced head‑and‑neck squamous cell
carcinoma whose tumors express PD‑L1 (combined positive score CPS ≥1) by a
validated test. Approval covers single-agent neoadjuvant use, postoperative
adjuvant radiotherapy with or without cisplatin, and continued pembrolizumab
monotherapy thereafter.
