A Review on the Progress and Potential Treatment of Melanoma by EMA & FDA in the Past Decade

Abstract

Agency (EMA) have played pivotal roles in this progress by approving numerous new treatments.One of the most significant developments in melanoma treatment has been the use of immunotherapy drugs, which utilize the body's immune system to combat cancer cells. Some of the FDA-approved immunotherapy drugs for melanoma include checkpoint inhibitors targeting CTLA-4, PD-1, and PD-L1 such as ipilimumab and nivolumab, as well as immune system boosters like interleukin-2. These drugs have demonstrated impressive results in treating advanced melanoma, with some patients experiencing long-term remission.Another promising avenue of melanoma treatment is targeted therapy, which concentrates on specific molecular pathways that contribute to the growth and spread of cancer cells. Some of the FDAapproved targeted therapies for melanoma include BRAF inhibitors like vemurafenib and dabrafenib, as well as MEK inhibitors such as trametinib. These drugs target specific genetic mutations commonly found in melanoma cells and have proven effective in slowing the progression of the disease. The EMA approved dabrafenib to treat melanoma with a mutant BRAF protein, specifically the BRAF V600 genetic mutation, that cannot be surgically removed, is unresectable, or has metastasized to other areas of the body. In conclusion, over the past decade, great strides have been taken in the treatment of melanoma. The FDA and EMA have been instrumental in this progress by approving innovative treatments that have improved the prognosis for melanoma patients.