Tepotinib: First Approval

Abstract

Tepotinib (Tepmetko™, Merck) is a MET tyrosine kinase inhibitor being developed for the treatment of solid tumours. In quarter three of 2019 tepotinib was granted breakthrough therapy status by the US FDA and orphan drug designation by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer harbouring MET alterations, and in March 2020 was approved for use in Japan in this indication. This article summarizes the milestones in the development of tepotinib leading to this first approval.