jasdooit

A new immune checkpoint inhibitor, which can be given through a subcutaneous injection in only 1 to 2 minutes, has been introduced.

Alteogen announced on the 20th that its U.S. partner Merck (MSD) has obtained approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the subcutaneous (SC) version of Keytruda.

If Keytruda Kyrex (Keytruda SC) gains strong traction in the market, Alteogen is anticipated to receive annual royalty revenue surpassing 1 trillion South Korean won.

Keytruda Kyrex is a subcutaneous form of the intravenous (IV) injection medication. Previously, cancer-fighting drugs were typically given through IV drips, which often required patients to stay in hospitals for long durations. Alteogen has developed proprietary technology that transforms IV formulations into subcutaneous injections, which can be delivered quickly. The company’s hyaluronidase ALT-B4 breaks down the hyaluronic acid layer beneath the skin, making room for fast drug absorption. This innovation allows established IV anticancer medications to be administered within just a few minutes.

Keytruda Kyrex needs to be injected for 1 minute every three weeks or for 2 minutes every six weeks. Since it is more convenient compared to intravenous administration, it is anticipated that anticancer injections will be accessible even in smaller clinics in the future.

Keytruda Kyrex has obtained the majority of the approvals that are currently available for the existing intravenous formulation. It has been approved for 38 different indications across various types of cancer, such as melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, head and neck cancer, urothelial carcinoma, gastric cancer, cervical cancer, and bile duct cancer. It is anticipated to be accessible in the U.S. from later this month.

MSD expects that between 30% and 40% of all Keytruda patients will choose the subcutaneous version following its launch in the U.S. Should the shift to the subcutaneous formulation go according to plan, Keytruda SC’s sales are expected to amount to 20–30 trillion South Korean won each year by 2030.

Industry insiders predict that Alteogen will earn annual royalty revenue surpassing 1 trillion South Korean won due to the FDA’s approval of this SC formulation.