Poly(methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic anhydride) (PMVEMA) is a versatile synthetic copolymer that has gained considerable attention in biomedical and pharmaceutical applications due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, bioadhesive properties and chemical reactivity. This review summarizes the current knowledge regarding the derivatives, physicochemical properties, functionalization and crosslinking strategies of PMVEMA, with particular emphasis on their relevance to biomedical applications. A comprehensive literature analysis was performed using major scientific databases, combined with artificial intelligence-assisted text mining, to identify the principal research trends associated with PMVEMA. The reviewed studies demonstrate that the reactive anhydride groups of PMVEMA enable the formation of a wide variety of derivatives, including hydrogels, nanoparticles and nanofibers with tunable properties. These characteristics have facilitated its application in different fields, including immunology, drug delivery, dentistry and dermatology. In particular, PMVEMA-based systems exhibit enhanced mucosal adhesion, controlled drug release, immunoadjuvant activity and biocompatibility in vitro and in vivo. Despite its broad applicability, further studies are still needed to fully elucidate its biodegradation mechanisms in vivo and optimize its clinical translation.