Introduction
Avelumab (trade name: Bavencio) has been approved in Germany since September 2017 for the treatment of metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma in adults.
Merkel-cell carcinoma is a rare, aggressive form of skin cancer that mainly affects older people. It is most common on parts of the skin that are often exposed to sunlight, like the face. It leads to reddish-purple round bumps on the skin.
The tumor is surgically removed, if possible. But sometimes it has already become too large or spread to other parts of the body (metastasis). It is then called advanced or metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma.
The aim of treatment with avelumab is to stimulate the immune system to fight the cancer.