Description

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) is a type of immunotherapy that is given by intravenous (into a vein) infusion over 30 minutes to treat many different types of cancer such as melanoma, lung cancer, and some lymphomas (see below for the full list of cancers Keytruda is approved for). It may be used alone or in combination with other medicines, including chemotherapy.

Keytruda works by binding to and blocking the interaction of the PD-1 (programmed death receptor-1) receptor with other proteins including PD-L1 and PD-L2. An upregulation of the PD-1 receptors occurs in some cancers and signaling through this pathway prevents the T-cells in our immune system from finding and attacking cancer cells. Animal studies have found that blocking PD-1 receptors helps the immune system to slow or stop the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body. Keytruda belongs to the class of monoclonal antibodies called PD-1 blocking antibodies.

Keytruda may be used to treat:

skin cancer (melanoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma)
lung cancer, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
head and neck cancer
classical Hodgkin lymphoma
primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma
cancer of the kidney, bladder, and urinary tract
colorectal cancer
liver cancer
triple-negative breast cancer
cancer of the cervix or uterus
microsatellite instability-high or mismatch repair deficient solid tumors
tumor mutational burden-high (TMB-H) cancer
advanced stomach or esophageal cancer
locally advanced unresectable or metastatic biliary tract cancer (BTC)
locally advanced unresectable or metastatic human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma, or
a type of cancer that laboratory testing proves to have certain specific DNA mutations.
Keytruda is only approved for certain types of cancer and may require a specific treatment history. In some cases, the tumor may need to be tested for particular genetic markers like PD-L1, dMMR, TMB, or pMMR to determine if Keytruda is right for you. Click here for more in-depth information on approved uses: Keytruda prescribing Information.

Keytruda is often given when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, or cannot be treated with surgery or radiation, or when other cancer treatments did not work or have stopped working.

Keytruda was first FDA-approved on September 4, 2014.