Five-year results show that tebentafusp (Kimmtrak) significantly improves long-term survival in patients with HLA-A*02:01–positive metastatic uveal melanoma. Historically, fewer than 10% of these patients survive five years, but tebentafusp increased the rate to 16%, compared to 8% with standard treatments such as pembrolizumab. Median overall survival also improved to 21.6 months versus 16.9 months, with benefits seen even in high-risk patients.
Interestingly, survival gains were observed even in patients whose scans showed tumor growth, suggesting traditional imaging may not fully reflect the drug’s effectiveness. Patients who continued treatment despite early progression often had better outcomes, and a 50% drop in circulating tumor DNA was strongly linked to long-term survival.
Tebentafusp works by redirecting T cells to attack melanoma cells. While most patients experience side effects like cytokine release syndrome and skin reactions, these are generally manageable. The drug is now considered a first-line standard for this patient group.