Pembrolizumab/berahyaluronidase alfa
| Combination of | |
|---|---|
| Pembrolizumab | Programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) blocking antibody |
| Berahyaluronidase alfa | Variant of hyaluronidase |
| Clinical data | |
| Trade names | Keytruda Qlex |
| License data | |
| Routes of administration | Subcutaneous |
| ATC code |
|
| Legal status | |
| Legal status | |
| Identifiers | |
| KEGG | |
Pembrolizumab/berahyaluronidase alfa, sold under the brand name Keytruda Qlex, is a fixed dose combination medication used for the treatment of many types of solid tumors.[1] It contains pembrolizumab, a programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) blocking antibody; and berahyaluronidase alfa, a variant of hyaluronidase.[1] It is given by injection under the skin (subcutaneous).[1]
Pembrolizumab/berahyaluronidase alfa was approved for medical use in the United States in September 2025.[2][3]
Medical uses
Pembrolizumab/berahyaluronidase alfa is indicated for the solid tumor indications approved for the intravenous formulation of pembrolizumab.[1][2]
Side effects
The US FDA prescribing information includes warnings and precautions for immune-mediated adverse reactions, hypersensitivity and administration-related reactions, complications of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and embryo-fetal toxicity.[2]
History
The efficacy was evaluated in study MK-3475A-D77 (NCT05722015), a randomized, multi-center, open-label, active-controlled trial conducted in participants with treatment-naïve metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, in whom there were no EGFR, ALK, or ROS1 genomic tumor aberrations.[2] A total of 377 participants were randomized (2:1) to receive either pembrolizumab/berahyaluronidase alfa administered subcutaneously every six weeks with platinum doublet chemotherapy or pembrolizumab administered intravenously every six weeks with platinum doublet chemotherapy.[2]
Society and culture
Legal status
Pembrolizumab/berahyaluronidase alfa was approved for medical use in the United States in September 2025.[2]
Names
Pembrolizumab and berahyaluronidase alfa are international nonproprietary names.[4][5][6]
Pembrolizumab/berahyaluronidase alfa is sold under the brand name Keytruda Qlex.[1][2]
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Keytruda Qlex (pembrolizumab and berahyaluronidase alfa-pmph) injection, for subcutaneous use" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 September 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g "FDA approves pembrolizumab and berahyaluronidase alfa-pmph for subcutaneous injection". U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 19 September 2025. Retrieved 21 September 2025. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ "FDA Approves Merck's Keytruda Qlex (pembrolizumab and berahyaluronidase alfa-pmph) Injection for Subcutaneous Use in Adults Across Most Solid Tumor Indications for Keytruda (pembrolizumab)". Merck (Press release). 21 September 2025. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
- ^ "Pembrolizumab". WHO/OMS. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
- ^ "International nonproprietary names for pharmaceutical substances (INN): recommended INN: list 90". WHO Drug Information. 37 (3). 2023. hdl:10665/373341.
- ^ "International nonproprietary names for pharmaceutical substances (INN): recommended INN: list 91". WHO Drug Information. 38 (1). 2024. hdl:10665/378096.
External links
- Clinical trial number NCT05722015 for "A Study of Subcutaneous (SC) Pembrolizumab Coformulated With Berahyaluronidase Alfa (MK-3475A) vs Intravenous Pembrolizumab in Adult Participants With Metastatic Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) (MK-3475A-D77)" at ClinicalTrials.gov