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Pembrolizumab

Generic name: pembrolizumab [ PEM-broe-LIZ-ue-mab ]
Brand name: Keytruda
Dosage form: intravenous solution (25 mg/mL)
Drug class: Anti-PD-1 and PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies (immune checkpoint inhibitors)

Medically reviewed by Melisa Puckey, BPharm. Last updated on Nov 10, 2023.

What is pembrolizumab?

Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) is a type of immunotherapy used to treat cancers, including lung cancer, breast cancer, melanoma, head and neck cancer, and many more. Pembrolizumab works by helping your immune system to slow or stop the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body. 

Pembrolizumab is an anti-PD-1 therapy that works (mechanism of action) by blocking the PD-1 (programmed death receptor-1) receptor, which helps it stop cancer cells from hiding from the immune system, resulting in decreased tumor growth.

Pembrolizumab is used alone or in combination with other medicines to treat certain types of cancer, such as:

Pembrolizumab 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.

For some types of cancer, pembrolizumab is given only if your tumor tests positive for "PD-L1", or if the tumor has been tested for a specific genetic marker (including "EGFR," "ALK," "HER2/neu," or "TMB").

Your doctor will review your specific type of cancer and past treatment history and other available treatments to determine if pembrolizumab is right for you.

Warnings

Pembrolizumab can change the way your immune system works, which may cause certain side effects that can lead to serious medical problems.

Pembrolizumab can cause serious or life-threatening side effects. Some side effects may need to be treated with other medicine, and your cancer treatments may be delayed. You will need frequent medical tests to help your doctor determine if it is safe for you to keep receivingthis medicine.

Call your doctor at once if you have: skin problems, vision problems, fever, swollen glands, neck stiffness, chest pain, cough, shortness of breath, muscle or joint pain, pale skin, weakness, diarrhea, severe stomach pain, blood in your stools, bruising or bleeding, dark urine, yellowing of the skin or eyes, a hormonal disorder (frequent headaches, feeling light-headed, rapid heartbeats, a deeper voice, increased thirst or urination, feeling cold, weight gain or loss), or a change in the amount or color of your urine.

Before taking this medicine

To make sure pembrolizumab is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

Pembrolizumab may harm an unborn baby. You may need a pregnancy test to make sure you are not pregnant. Use effective birth control while using pembrolizumab and for at least 4 months after your last dose. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant.

Do not breastfeed while using pembrolizumab, and for at least 4 months after your last dose.

How is pembrolizumab given?

Pembrolizumab is given as an infusion into a vein, usually once every 3 to 6 weeks. A healthcare provider will give you this injection.

This medicine must be given slowly over 30 minutes.

You will need frequent medical tests to help your doctor determine if it is safe for you to keep receiving pembrolizumab. Do not miss any follow-up visits.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Call your doctor for instructions if you miss an appointment for your pembrolizumab injection.

What happens if I overdose?

In a medical setting an overdose would be treated quickly.

What should I avoid while receiving pembrolizumab?

Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity.

Pembrolizumab side effects

Common pembrolizumab side effects

Serious pembrolizumab side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to pembrolizumab (hives, difficult breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).

Seek medical treatment if you have a serious drug reaction that can affect many parts of your body. Symptoms may include skin rash, fever, swollen glands, muscle aches, severe weakness, unusual bruising, or yellowing of your skin or eyes.

Some side effects may occur during the injection. Tell your medical caregiver if you feel dizzy, nauseated, light-headed, itchy, sweaty, or have a headache, chest tightness, back pain, trouble breathing, or swelling in your face.

Pembrolizumab causes your immune system to attack tumor cells, but it could also attack healthy organs and tissues in your body. This could lead to serious or life-threatening side effects on your lungs, liver, pancreas, kidneys, intestines, thyroid, or adrenal glands.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

Your cancer treatments may be delayed or permanently discontinued if you have certain side effects.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect pembrolizumab?

Tell your doctor about all other cancer treatments you are receiving.

Other drugs may interact with pembrolizumab, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use.

Ingredients

Keytruda
Active ingredient: pembrolizumab
Inactive ingredients: L-histidine, polysorbate 80, sucrose, and water for injection

Manufacturer

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ 07065, USA.

Popular FAQ

Pembrolizumab and nivolumab are both prescription medications used to treat various types of cancers, including solid tumors and blood cancers. They may be used alone or in combination with other medicines for cancers that are more advanced, have spread in the body, or are no longer responding to previous treatments. Continue reading

Inlyta and Keytruda are given as a combination therapy for first-line treatment of kidney cancer (advanced renal cell carcinoma) in adults. Inlyta is an oral medication given 2 times per day and Keytruda is an intravenous (IV) infusion given every 3 weeks or every 6 weeks. Continue reading

Pembrolizumab, an immunotherapy checkpoint inhibitor, was first approved in September 2014. Since that time at least 20 uses in cancer have been approved by the FDA, ranging from skin cancer to lung cancer. Pembrolizumab is now approved to treat certain lymphomas, a type of blood cancer, in addition to solid tumors. Continue reading

Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) is a type of immunotherapy medicine used to treat many different types of cancer. Immunotherapy can sometimes cause your immune system to attack healthy organs and tissues and lead to side effects. These side effects may be serious or life-threatening. This may happen anytime during or after treatment. Continue reading

Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) is a type of immunotherapy drug called an Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor. It binds to the PD-1 receptor on the T-cell to help block cancer cells from linking to and inactivating the cancer-fighting T-cells. While having an effect on the tumor, this could also affect normal healthy cells. Continue reading

Pembrolizumab (brand name: Keytruda) is a cancer medicine given into your vein as a slow intravenous (IV) infusion that usually takes about 30 minutes. You will most likely receive this treatment in an outpatient clinic or hospital setting every 3 or 6 weeks. Continue reading

Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) is approved by the FDA to be used in combination with lenvatinib (Lenvima) for the treatment of certain patients with advanced endometrial cancer that is not MMR deficient (dMMR) or MSI high (MSI-H) after at least one other drug treatment has been tried. Continue reading

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Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use pembrolizumab only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.