FYB206


Pembrolizumab Biosimilar Candidate

FYB206 is a biosimilar candidate for Keytruda® (pembrolizumab). Keytruda®* is used in cancer immunotherapy for the treatment of various tumor diseases.

Development Progress

Technical Development
Manufacturing
Clinical Development
Approval Process

Indication Area
Immuno-Oncology


Active Ingredient Group
PD1 Inhibitor

Indications of the Reference Drug
Advanced melanoma, Non-small cell bronchial carcinoma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Urothelial carcinomas, Tumors in the head and neck area, other tumor diseases*

Business Modell:
100 % Formycon Project


Market Launch
in the United States and the EU after loss of exclusivity of the reference drug

Pembrolizumab Market
With its broad range of indications in oncology and sales of USD 29.5 billion in 2024, Keytruda® is one of the best-selling drugs. Due to the increasing number of cancer diagnoses around the world, further sales growth is forecast for the coming years.


* The specific indication groups approved are listed in the product information
provided by the EMA or FDA.

FYB206 Biosimilar Development

FYB202 / Ustekinumab wird zur Behandlung schwerer entzündlicher Erkrankungen eingesetzt

FYB206 Biosimilar Development

How does Pembrolizumab work?


The active ingredient pembrolizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that belongs to the group of immune checkpoint inhibitors and is used to treat a variety of tumors. Pembrolizumab binds to the PD-1 receptor and specifically blocks the interaction between PD-1 and its ligand PD-L1. This supports the immune system in activating the body's own cellular anti-tumor immune response and - for example - killing melanoma cells.

July 2025


Formycon successfully completes patient enrollment for the clinical development
[Further Information]

February 2025


Based on the stringent study design and comprehensive analytical data demonstrating high structural and functional comparability with the reference drug, Formycon has agreed with the FDA on a streamlined clinical development program that does not require a Phase III study.

October 2024


Formycon publishes results of analytical similarity study of biosimilar candidate FYB206 and Keytruda® in peer-reviewed journal Drugs in R&D
[Further Information]

June 2024


Start of Clinical Development
[Further Information]

September 2022


Formycon discloses the reference drug for biosimilar candidate FYB206
[Further Information]

Preclinical data


Analytical study on the comparability of the biosimilar candidate FYB206 with Keytruda®