Enfortumab vedotin with pembrolizumab as perioperative therapy for previously untreated cisplatin-ineligible, muscle-invasive bladder cancer

Enfortumab vedotin in combination with pembrolizumab is currently in clinical development as a perioperative (around the time of surgery) treatment for patients with untreated muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), who are ineligible or refuse cisplatin therapy (a type of chemotherapy). MIBC is a cancer that spreads into the muscle layer of the bladder wall. The survival rates for patients with MIBC are low because this type of cancer is more likely to spread. The current treatment option for MIBC patients includes chemotherapy given prior to main treatment, e.g., surgery (neoadjuvant). The chemotherapy drug given to treat MIBC is called cisplatin. However, some patients are unable to receive this type of chemotherapy, which increases their risk of cancer spreading to other parts of the body. There is therefore a need to develop additional treatment options to improve prognosis outcomes.