FDA Approves Viral Immunotherapy for Advanced Melanoma

Why it matters locally: This national FDA approval of a new advanced melanoma treatment could be particularly impactful for patients in Indiana, including those seeking advanced care at facilities like Indiana University Health Simon Cancer Center or Franciscan Health Indianapolis, by offering a new therapeutic option for previously untreatable cases.

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WASHINGTON D.C. -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today approved Tudriqev (vusolimogene oderparepvec-wtpg) for advanced melanoma. This approval specifically targets cases of the skin cancer that have not responded to prior treatments. Tudriqev is a genetically modified oncolytic viral therapy. It works by infecting and replicating within cancer cells, causing them to burst and release new viruses and tumor-associated antigens, which can then stimulate an immune response against the cancer.