Pembrolizumab (Keytruda)

Key Messages

• Canada’s Drug Agency (CDA-AMC) recommends that Keytruda be reimbursed by public drug plans for the adjuvant treatment of adult patients with stage IB (with tumour[s] of 4 cm in diameter or larger), II, or IIIA non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have undergone complete resection and platinum-based chemotherapy and whose tumours have a PD-L1 tumour proportion score (TPS) of less than 50%, as determined by a validated test, if certain conditions are met.
• Keytruda should only be covered to treat patients aged 18 years or older who have a diagnosis of stage IB (with tumour[s] of 4 cm in diameter or larger), II, or IIIA NSCLC whose tumours have been completely surgically removed, who have received platinum-based chemotherapy, whose tumours have a PD-L1 TPS of less than 50% as determined by pathology testing, and who are in relatively good health (as measured by performance status). Keytruda should not be covered for patients who have received or planned to receive radiation therapy before or after surgery, and/or who are receiving other drugs before surgery to shrink a tumour or stop its spread. Also, Keytruda should not be covered to treat patients who have had previous treatment with drugs that change how the immune system works.
• Keytruda should only be reimbursed if it is prescribed by clinicians with expertise in managing lung cancer and the price of Keytruda is reduced.