Merck & Co. Inc. said Wednesday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved its blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda as a treatment for malignant plural mesothelioma, a rare cancer associated with asbestos.

The FDA has approved Merck's Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in combination with pemetrexed and platinum chemotherapy for first-line treatment of advanced or metastatic malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Merck & Co., Inc. MRK announced that the FDA had approved its blockbuster anti-PD-1 therapy, Keytruda (pembrolizumab), for a new indication. The regulatory body has now approved Keytruda in combination with pemetrexed and platinum chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable advanced or metastatic malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM).

Merck (NYSE:MRK) announced Wednesday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a label expansion for its blockbuster therapy Keytruda to allow its use as a first-line combination therapy for mesothelioma,