section name header

Indications

High Alert


Contraind./Precautions

Contraindicated in:

Use Cautiously in:

Adv. Reactions/Side Effects

Interactions

Drug-drug:

Availability

Route/Dosage

Melanoma

Adjuvant Treatment of Melanoma

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma, Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Esophageal Cancer, Biliary Tract Cancer, or Locally Recurrent Unresectable or Metastatic Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Locally Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma,

Adjuvant Treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Resectable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Urothelial Carcinoma, Gastric Cancer, Cervical Cancer, Endometrial Carcinoma, Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Renal Cell Carcinoma, Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma, or Microsatellite Instability-High/Mismatch Repair Deficient Colorectal Cancer

Adjuvant Treatment of Renal Cell Carcinoma

Bacillus Calmette-Guerin-Unresponsive, High-Risk Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer

Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma, Microsatellite Instability-High/Mismatch Repair Deficient Cancer, Primary Mediastinal Large B-Cell Lymphoma, Merkel Cell Carcinoma, or Tumor Mutational Burden-High Cancer

High-Risk, Early-Stage Triple Negative Breast Cancer

US Brand Names

Keytruda

Action

  • Programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) blocking antibody (an IgG4 kappa immunoglobulin) that binds to PD-1 and blocks its interaction with its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, resulting in activation of the immune system and decreased tumor growth.
Therapeutic effects:
  • Decreased spread of melanoma, NSCLC, malignant pleural mesothelioma, HNSCC, cHL, urothelial carcinoma, MSI-H or dMMR solid tumors, MSI-H or dMMR colorectal cancer, gastric tumors, cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, esophageal cancer, primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, biliary tract cancer, Merkel cell carcinoma, RCC, TMB-H solid tumors, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, and TNBC.

Classifications

Therapeutic Classification: antineoplastics

Pharmacologic Classification: monoclonal antibodies, programmed death-1 inhibitors

Pharmacokinetics

Absorption: IV administration results in complete bioavailability.

Distribution: Unknown.

Metabolism/Excretion: Unknown.

Half-Life: 26 days.

Time/Action Profile

ROUTEONSETPEAKDURATION
IVwithin 3 mounknownmay persist for >8.8 mo

Patient/Family Teaching

  • Explain purpose and side effects of medication to patient. Advise patient to read Patient Information before starting therapy. Emphasize importance of keeping scheduled appointments for blood work or other laboratory tests.
  • Instruct patient to notify health care provider of all Rx or OTC medications, vitamins, or herbal products being taken and to consult with health care provider before taking other medications.
  • Advise patient to notify health care provider immediately if signs and symptoms of pneumonitis; colitis; hepatitis; kidney problems (change in amount or color of urine); hormone gland problems (rapid heartbeat, weight loss, sweating, weight gain, hair loss, feeling cold, constipation, deepening of voice, dizziness or fainting, persistent or unusual headache); change in taste; trouble sleeping; flu-like symptoms; or back, bone, joint, muscle, or neck pain occur.
  • Rep: May cause fetal harm. Advise women of reproductive potential to use highly effective contraception and avoid breastfeeding during and for 4 mo after last dose.

Pronunciation

pem-broe-LI-zoo-mab

Code

NDC Code