KEYTRUDA 100MG INJECTION

Introduction:

Keytruda 100 mg Injection is an immunotherapy medication containing the active constituent pembrolizumab. It is used to treat cancers in the skin, lungs, bladder, stomach, liver, gallbladder, cervix, kidney, colon, rectum, esophagus, breast, and uterus cancers. It is used to treat head and neck cancer and classical Hodgkin lymphoma (a type of blood cancer). Cancer is a disorder in which cells multiply in an uncontrolled and abnormal manner.

This medication may be used to treat other disease conditions not mentioned here. Keytruda 100 mg Injection is not recommended for adolescents and children under 18 years of age, except for children with classical Hodgkin lymphoma aged three years and older. Use effective birth control during the treatment and for at least four months after the last dose.

You need to inform your physician if you have autoimmune disorders, lung problems, liver disorders, kidney disorders, HIV, or have had an organ or bone marrow transplantation before taking this medication. Make sure you inform your physician of all the medicines, including supplements and herbal medicines, you are taking before you start treatment with Keytruda Injection.

Keytruda uses :

Keytruda 100mg Injection is used to treat:

• Advanced esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, urothelial bladder cancer & cervical cancer
• Advanced triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) & high-risk early-stage TNBC
• Skin cancer types – Melanoma and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC)
• Head and neck squamous cell cancer, kidney cancer (RCC) & classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL)
• Cancer that is determined to be microsatellite instability-high or mismatch repair deficient (MSI-H/dMMR)
• Advanced MSI-H/dMMR colorectal and endometrial cancer
• High-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC)
• Advanced Merkel cell carcinoma
• Advanced liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) and kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma)
• Primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL)
• Tumor mutational burden-high (TMB-H) cancer

How Keytruda 100mg Injection works:

Keytruda 100mg blocks the PD-1 receptor found on immune cells, preventing binding and activation of proteins PDL-1 and PDL-2. This mechanism enables the activation of T-cell (immune cell) mediated immune response against cancer cells and prevents cancer growth.

Interactions with other drugs:

Inform your doctor about any medications you are taking or have taken before the treatment.

More information:

• Keep Keytruda 100 mg Injection out of sight and reach of children.
• Store in a refrigerator (2°C to 8°C).

References:

1. Merck Sharp & Dohme (UK) Limited, Electronic medicines compendium (emc), [Revised on May 2022] [ Accessed on 22/06/2022], https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.2498.pdf
2. Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp, US Food and Drug administration, [Revised on Jan 2020] [ Accessed on 22/06/2022], https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2020/125514s066lbl.pdf
3. Keytruda; MERCK; Accessed on 22/06/2022; https://www.keytruda.com/
4. Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp, [Revised on May 2022] [ Accessed on 22/06/2022], https://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/k/keytruda/keytruda_pi.pdf
5. Leila Khoja et al; Pembrolizumab; Journal of Immunotherapy of Cancer; Published on Aug 2015; Accessed on 22/06/2022; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26288737/
6. Gerry Kwok et al; Pembrolizumab (Keytruda); Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics; Published on Nov 2016; Accessed on 22/06/2022; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27398650/
7. Nicoletta Colombo et al; Pembrolizumab for Persistent, Recurrent, or Metastatic Cervical Cancer; The New England Journal of Medicine; Published on 11/11/2021; Accessed on 22/06/2022; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34534429/
8. Zev A Wainberg et al; Efficacy of Pembrolizumab Monotherapy for Advanced Gastric/Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer with Programmed Death Ligand 1 Combined Positive Score ≥10; Clinical Cancer Research; Published on 01/04/2021; Accessed on 22/06/2022; https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33446564/
9. Bruno Sangro et al; Advances in immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma; Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology; Published on 13/04/2021; Accessed on 22/06/2022; https://www.nature.com/articles/s41575-021-00438-0
10. Aikaterini Aravantinou‑Fatorou et al; Pembrolizumab in endometrial cancer: Where we stand now (Review); Oncology Letters; Published on 08/10/2021; Accessed on 22/06/2022; https://www.spandidos-publications.com/10.3892/ol.2021.13082

How to use Keytruda 100 mg Injection 4 ml:

It will be given to you by a health care professional.

Safety advice:

Pregnancy:

Keytruda 100mg Injection is not recommended for pregnant patients. You need to tell your physician if you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant before taking this medicine. 

Breastfeeding:

This medication is not recommended for breastfeeding patients. You need to tell your physician if you are breastfeeding before taking Keytruda 100mg Injection. 

Liver:

You need to tell your physician if you have hepatitis B, C, or any other liver disorders before taking Keytruda 100mg Injection, as this medication should be used with caution in liver disease patients.

Kidney:

It is essential to let your health care provider know if you have any kidney disorders, as this medicine needs to be used with caution in patients with kidney problems. 

Driving: 

Keytruda 100mg Injection may cause dizziness or tiredness. Avoid driving if you are unwell.

Others:

• Talk to your physician if you have autoimmune disorders, lung problems, HIV, or have had an organ or bone marrow transplantation before taking this medication.

Side effects are unwanted symptoms caused by medicines. Even though all medicines cause side effects, not everyone gets them.

Serious:

• Infusion reactions (shortness of breath, rash, itching, dizziness, fever)
• Inflammation of the organs in the body

Common:

• Low blood cell count
• Decreased appetite
• Headache
• Nausea, vomiting
• Constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain
• Pain in the bones, muscles, and joints
• Tiredness
• Sleeping troubles
• Thyroid problems
• High blood pressure
• Dry eye, dry mouth