Introduction
Cemiplimab (trade name: Libtayo) has been approved in Germany since June 2019 for the treatment of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC).
CSCC is a type of non-melanoma skin cancer. In most cases it develops on the face or other parts of the body that are regularly exposed to sunlight. It is more common in older people. If CSCC is detected early on, it can usually be completely removed by surgery. Left untreated, it can grow and spread to nearby lymph nodes or even other organs and form distant (metastatic) tumors there.
Cemiplimab can be used to treat advanced local CSCC or metastatic CSCC if surgery or radiotherapy are no longer an option. The aim of treatment with this drug is to stimulate the to fight the cancer.