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What Is Keytruda?

Keytruda is a prescription programmed death receptor-1 blocking antibody containing pembrolizumab. Current U.S. labeling covers numerous solid tumors and blood cancers under disease-specific criteria, including melanoma, lung cancer, head and neck cancer, urothelial cancer, selected lymphomas, colorectal and other biomarker-defined cancers, gastrointestinal cancers, cervical cancer, kidney cancer, endometrial cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, and ovarian cancer.

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What Is Keytruda?

Keytruda is a prescription programmed death receptor-1 blocking antibody containing pembrolizumab. Current U.S. labeling covers numerous solid tumors and blood cancers under disease-specific criteria, including melanoma, lung cancer, head and neck cancer, urothelial cancer, selected lymphomas, colorectal and other biomarker-defined cancers, gastrointestinal cancers, cervical cancer, kidney cancer, endometrial cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, and ovarian cancer.

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How Does Keytruda Block PD-1?

Pembrolizumab binds to the PD-1 receptor and blocks its interaction with PD-L1 and PD-L2. This reduces inhibitory signaling in T cells and increases immune activity against susceptible tumor cells.

Who Is Treated With Keytruda?

Keytruda is used alone or with other anticancer medicines across multiple disease settings. Current July 2026 labeling includes melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, malignant pleural mesothelioma, head and neck squamous cell cancer, classical Hodgkin lymphoma, primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma, urothelial cancer, MSI-H or dMMR cancers, colorectal cancer, gastric and esophageal cancers, cervical cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, biliary tract cancer, Merkel cell carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, endometrial carcinoma, TMB-H cancer, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, triple-negative breast cancer, and ovarian cancer under indication-specific criteria.

How Is Keytruda Dosed?

For most adult indications, Keytruda is administered as 200 mg by intravenous infusion every three weeks or 400 mg every six weeks. Selected pediatric indications use 2 mg per kg up to 200 mg every three weeks. Each infusion is given over 30 minutes, and treatment duration depends on the cancer and regimen.

What Serious Risks Are Linked to Keytruda?

Keytruda can cause severe or fatal immune-mediated reactions in any organ or tissue, including pneumonitis, colitis, hepatitis, endocrine disorders, nephritis, and severe skin reactions. Other serious concerns include infusion reactions, complications before or after allogeneic stem cell transplantation, and fetal harm. Treatment is withheld or permanently discontinued according to the type and severity of toxicity.

Frequently Asked Questions About Keytruda

What type of medicine is Keytruda?

Keytruda is a PD-1 blocking monoclonal antibody containing pembrolizumab.

How is Keytruda administered?

Keytruda is given by intravenous infusion over 30 minutes.

What are common adult Keytruda dosing schedules?

Most adult indications use 200 mg every three weeks or 400 mg every six weeks.

Can Keytruda cause immune-related side effects?

Yes. Immune-mediated reactions can affect organs including the lungs, intestines, liver, endocrine glands, kidneys, skin, and other tissues.

References

KEYTRUDA (Pembrolizumab) Prescribing Information. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=9333c79b-d487-4538-a9f0-71b91a02b287. Date Accessed October 7, 2026.

Pembrolizumab Injection: MedlinePlus Drug Information. https://www.medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a614048.html. Date Accessed October 7, 2026.

Pembrolizumab Versus Chemotherapy for PD-L1-Positive Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27718847/. Date Accessed October 7, 2026.

Pembrolizumab Versus Ipilimumab in Advanced Melanoma. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25891173/. Date Accessed October 7, 2026.

Pembrolizumab Versus Ipilimumab in Advanced Melanoma: 10-Year Follow-Up of the Phase III KEYNOTE-006 Study. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39306585/. Date Accessed October 7, 2026.