Why carry out this study?

Surgical resection is the primary treatment for stage IIB–IIC melanoma but is often not curative because of high risk of disease recurrence post-surgery

This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of adjuvant pembrolizumab versus routine observation alone (no adjuvant treatment) in patients with resected stage IIB–IIC melanoma from a US health sector perspective

What was learned from the study?

Over a lifetime horizon, pembrolizumab was estimated to extend life years and quality-adjusted life years relative to observation and was cost-effective based on a typical US-specific willingness-to-pay threshold

Results from this study can inform decision-making by payers, physicians, and patients regarding the optimal treatment strategy for resected stage IIB–IIC melanoma