Pembrolizumab (Keytruda)

Canada’s Drug Agency (CDA-AMC) recommends that Keytruda be reimbursed by public drug plans for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with unresectable or metastatic microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) solid tumours, as determined by a validated test, that have progressed following prior treatment and who have no satisfactory alternative treatment options, if certain conditions are met. Keytruda should only be covered to treat patients aged 6 months and older who have solid tumours with MSI-H and/or dMMR mutations that cannot be removed by surgery, or whose tumours have spread to other parts of the body; who have not responded to previous therapy and have no other treatment options available; and who are in relatively good health. Keytruda should only be reimbursed if it is prescribed by clinicians with expertise in treating advanced cancer and the cost of Keytruda is reduced. It should not be given in combination with other anticancer drugs, as well as in patients who have a history of treatment with an anti–PD-1, anti–PD-L1, or anti–PD-L2 drug.