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Keytruda

Generic: Pembrolizumab

Rx only
PD-1 blocker✓ FDA-verified
View full FDA label ↗
Keytruda is a medication used to treat various types of cancer, including melanoma, lung cancer, and certain blood cancers. It works by helping the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells more effectively. The medication is given as an intravenous infusion, typically at a starting dose of 200 mg every three weeks, or 400 mg every six weeks, depending on the specific condition being treated. It's important to know that Keytruda can cause serious immune-related side effects, so patients should be monitored closely for any unusual symptoms. Additionally, patients with autoimmune diseases or those requiring immunosuppressive medications should avoid using Keytruda, as it may worsen their condition.

Uses

  • Unresectable or metastatic melanoma.
  • Adjuvant treatment for Stage IIB, IIC, or III melanoma.
  • Metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
  • Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM).
  • Head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC).
  • Classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL).
  • Primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL).
  • Urothelial cancer.
  • Microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) cancer.
  • Gastric cancer.
  • Esophageal cancer.
  • Cervical cancer.
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  • Biliary tract cancer (BTC).
  • Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC).
  • Renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
  • Endometrial carcinoma.
  • Tumor mutational burden-high (TMB-H) cancer.
  • Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC).
  • Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
  • Ovarian cancer.

Dosage

200 mg every 3 weeks or 400 mg every 6 weeks for adults. 2 mg/kg (up to 200 mg) every 3 weeks for pediatrics.
Administer as an intravenous infusion over 30 minutes.
Always follow your doctor's specific instructions for your dose.

Side effects

Common

fatiguemusculoskeletal painrashdiarrheacoughdecreased appetitepneumonitis

Serious

colitishepatitisautoimmune reactionssevere infections
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Warnings

⚠ Important warnings

  • Not recommended for patients with urgent cytoreductive therapy needs.
  • Monitor for severe immune-mediated reactions.
  • Discontinue for life-threatening immune-mediated reactions.

Ask about this drug

Answers pulled from the FDA label only.

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Medical Disclaimer: This content is provided for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before taking any medication.
Data Source: Publicly available drug labeling information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).