The First FDA Approved Treatment for Metastatic Uveal Melanoma: What It Means for the OM Community

On January 26, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the approval of KIMMTRAK (tebentafusp-tebn), the first and only FDA-approved treatment for metastatic uveal melanoma, developed by Immunocore. The approval follows Phase III clinical trial data that showed a statistically and clinically meaningful overall survival benefit in unresectable or metastatic uveal melanoma. The therapy is expected to be available in the United States within weeks, and a global early access program is underway. For additional information about the treatment, which patients may benefit and what this means for the future of OM research, visit the resources below:

• View the official press release from Immunocore, including quotes from MRF CEO Kyleigh LiPira, MBA and CURE Ocular Melanoma (CURE OM) Co-Founder and Director Sara Selig, MD, MPH.
• Read a recent guest blog post on how this could change the direction of OM research by Keith T. Flaherty, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Director of Developmental Therapeutics at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and Co-Chair of the MRF’s CURE OM Scientific Steering Committee
• Watch the recording from a live Q&A with Marlana Orloff, MD, Associate Professor of Medical Oncology at Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center and Sara Selig, MD, MPH, Co-Founder and Director of CURE OM. Dr. Orloff and Dr. Selig gave an overview of how the new treatment works and answered questions from viewers during the Facebook Live broadcast on February 11, 2022.
• Learn about Samantha’s journey from her OM diagnosis in 2011 to joining a community of “hope seekers” and becoming a dedicated supporter of the OM community, including advocating at the first FDA listening session for advancing the development of new OM treatments like Kimmtrak.

For more information about the MRF’s CURE OM initiative and its work to advance the field of ocular melanoma research, treatment and patient support, visit the CURE OM website or email [email protected].