Merck KGaA and Pfizer received marketing authorization from the European Commission for BAVENCIO (avelumab) as a monotherapy for the treatment of metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (mMCC), a rare and aggressive skin cancer. BAVENCIO is expected to become commercially available within a few months, with initial launches in Germany and UK expected in October 2017. Approximately 2,500 Europeans are affected by MCC each year, with metastatic disease diagnosed in 5-12% of patients. Fewer than 20% of...