WHO adds immunotherapies to its latest essential medicines list

The WHO just released its latest list of essential medicines — drugs that the agency recommends should be affordable and easily available — and the immunotherapies Opdivo and Keytruda are notable additions. The drugs are listed only for their use against advanced melanoma, where patient survival has increased by up to 50% as a result of the treatments. The list did not include the use of these drugs for lung and other cancers. The WHO also said that despite other new cancer drugs being approved in recent years, not all of them have shown enough efficacy to warrant a place on the list. Other additions of note: an abortion pill that was moved up in priority, provided a nation's laws allow it; a dozen new tests for cancer, as earlier detection can improve the chances of survival; and tests for infectious diseases including Zika and dengue.