Pembrolizumab (Keytruda)

Canada’s Drug Agency (CDA-AMC) recommends that Keytruda be reimbursed by public drug plans for the treatment of adult patients with resectable stage II, IIIA, or IIIB (T3 to 4N2) non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), in combination with platinum-containing chemotherapy as neoadjuvant treatment and then continued as monotherapy as adjuvant treatment after surgery, if certain conditions are met. Keytruda should only be covered to treat adult patients who have stage II, IIIA, or IIIB (T3 to 4N2) NSCLC with tumours that can be surgically removed, are in relatively good health (as measured by performance status), have no prior treatment with drugs that change how the immune system works, and have no known EGFR or ALK gene abnormalities. Keytruda should only be reimbursed if prescribed by clinicians with expertise in managing patients with NSCLC and if the cost of Keytruda is reduced.