How Jimmy Carter’s Melanoma Diagnosis Introduced Immunotherapy to Cancer Care

In the wake of former president Jimmy Carter’s death, his pivotal role in introducing immunotherapy as a transformative cancer treatment remains one of his most enduring legacies, offering hope to patients around the world. His remarkable recovery from advanced melanoma, attributed to pembrolizumab (Keytruda; Merck)—nicknamed the “Jimmy Carter drug”—brought global attention to this innovative therapy and catalyzed a shift in how cancer is treated.¹

Jimmy Carter in 2013 at the Commonwealth Club | Image Credit: © Ed Ritger - stock.adobe.com

“President Jimmy Carter’s courageous victory against cancer and his openness about embracing immunotherapy inspired hope for millions around the world,” said Alicia Zhou, PhD, chief executive officer of the Cancer Research Institute (CRI), in an article published by the CRI. “His story stands as a testament to the transformative power of scientific innovation, reminding us that breakthroughs in immunotherapy can turn even the most challenging diagnoses into stories of resilience and triumph.”²

In 2015, Carter was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma that had spread across 4 areas of his brain. At the time, metastatic melanoma was considered a “death sentence” and was very difficult to treat. In an effort to extend the former president’s life, his medical team decided to try pembrolizumab, a novel anti–PD-1 monoclonal antibody that was granted accelerated approval by the FDA in 2014.^1,2

After 4 rounds of pembrolizumab in tandem with radiation therapy, Carter’s clinicians declared him cancer-free. This demonstrated the remarkable potential of immunotherapies to treat even late-stage, advanced disease and gave hope to other patients with similarly poor prognoses. As of 2025, 45% of cancer patients are eligible for immunotherapy, of which 30% to 60% will respond to treatment.^1,2

“Scientific progress… is a core act of kindness, a recognition of our common humanity.” – Jimmy Carter

Carter’s impact on public health extends far beyond his role in accelerating awareness of immunotherapy. With the founding of the Carter Center, he dedicated his efforts to the near eradication of Guinea worm disease. In 1986, the disease affected 3.5 million individuals across 21 African countries every year, which has since been reduced by 99.99% following Carter’s intervention. Notably, eradication of Guinea worm was done without the use of any medical tools or vaccine efforts; rather, it was dependent on tracking cases and monitoring communities.³

The late former president also addressed other diseases including parasitic infections schistosomiasis and lymphatic filariasis, as well as trachoma, the world’s leading cause of preventable blindness. His interventions led to the organization of a major drug-donation program to help eliminate onchocerciasis, also known as river blindness. By partnering with Merck, The Carter Center distributed over 500 million treatments of ivermectin (Mectizan; Merck & Co, Inc) in Africa and Latin America.³

Immunotherapy has revolutionized therapeutic approaches and outcomes for treatment of various cancers, leading to advancements in individual agents and development of combination therapies. Since Carter’s successful treatment, there have been about 15 treatments approved for metastatic melanoma, underscoring his significant impact on broader acceptance of immunotherapy among the medical community and patients. His case demonstrated the transformative potential of immunotherapies, reshaping how cancer is treated and accelerating its adoption as a cornerstone of modern oncology.¹

REFERENCES

1. The 'Carter effect': How the former president gave cancer patients hope. NBC News. December 29, 2024. Accessed January 9, 2025. https://www.nbcnews.com/health/cancer/jimmy-carter-drug-immunotherapy-melanoma-rcna153166

2. How immunotherapy extended President Jimmy Carter’s life. Cancer Research Institute. December 30, 2024. Accessed January 9, 2025. https://www.cancerresearch.org/blog/december-2024/how-immunotherapy-extended-president-jimmy-carters-life

3. Jimmy Carter leaves behind a global public health work legacy. ABC News. December 31, 2024. Accessed January 9, 2025. https://abcnews.go.com/Health/jimmy-carter-leaves-global-public-health-work-legacy/story?id=117195484