FDA approves new therapy for hard-to-treat metastatic melanoma

The US Food and Drug Administration approved a new therapy for metastatic melanoma, a rare and deadly form of skin cancer. The therapy, called Amtagvi, is the first cellular therapy for this type of solid tumor cancer. It works by using a patient’s own immune cells to fight the cancer. The treatment involves removing tissue from the tumors, growing immune cells in the lab, and infusing them back into the patient. In clinical trials, the therapy showed positive results with an objective response rate of 31.5%. The treatment carries potential risks, but doctors believe it has the potential to cure or control the disease for several years.