Meds & supplements › Pembrolizumab
Medicine · Programmed Death Receptor-1 Blocking Antibody
KEYTRUDA QLEX is a combination of pembrolizumab, a programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1)-blocking antibody, and berahyaluronidase alfa, an endoglycosidase,
Selected manufacturer label information, organised into consistent sections by Sofidex. Read the full label at DailyMed ↗
KEYTRUDA QLEX is a combination of pembrolizumab, a programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1)-blocking antibody, and berahyaluronidase alfa, an endoglycosidase, indicated: Melanoma for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma. for the adjuvant treatment of adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older with Stage IIB, IIC, or III melanoma following complete resection.
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) in combination with pemetrexed and platinum chemotherapy, as first-line treatment of adult patients with metastatic nonsquamous NSCLC, with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations. in combination with carboplatin and either paclitaxel or paclitaxel protein-bound, as first-line treatment of adult patients with metastatic squamous NSCLC.
as a single agent for the first-line treatment of adult patients with NSCLC expressing PD-L1 [Tumor Proportion Score (TPS) ≥1%] as determined by an FDA-authorized test, with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations, and is: Stage III where patients are not candidates for surgical resection or definitive chemoradiation, or metastatic.
( 1.2, 2.1 ) as a single agent for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic NSCLC whose tumors express PD-L1 (TPS ≥1%) as determined by an FDA-authorized test, with disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy. Patients with EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations should have disease progression on FDA-approved therapy for these aberrations prior to receiving KEYTRUDA QLEX.
( 1.2, 2.1 ) for the treatment of adult patients with resectable (tumors ≥4 cm or node positive) NSCLC in combination with platinum-containing chemotherapy as neoadjuvant treatment, and then continued as a single agent as adjuvant treatment after surgery. as a single agent, for adjuvant treatment following resection and platinum-based chemotherapy for adult patients with Stage IB (T2a ≥4 cm), II, or IIIA NSCLC.
Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM) in combination with pemetrexed and platinum chemotherapy, as first-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable advanced or metastatic MPM. Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer (HNSCC) for the treatment of adult patients with resectable locally advanced HNSCC whose tumors express PD-L1 [Combined Positive Score (CPS) ≥1] as determined by an FDA-authorized test, as a single agent as neoadjuvant treatment, continued as adjuvant treatment in combination with radiotherapy (RT) with or without cisplatin and then as a single agent.
in combination with platinum and FU for the first-line treatment of adult patients with metastatic or with unresectable, recurrent HNSCC. as a single agent for the first-line treatment of adult patients with metastatic or with unresectable, recurrent HNSCC whose tumors express PD-L1 [Combined Positive Score (CPS) ≥1] as determined by an FDA-authorized test.
( 1.4, 2.1 ) as a single agent for the treatment of adult patients with recurrent or metastatic HNSCC with disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy. Urothelial Cancer in combination with enfortumab vedotin-ejfv, for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer.
as a single agent for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma who: are not eligible for any platinum-containing chemotherapy, or who have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy or within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment with platinum-containing chemotherapy.
in combination with enfortumab vedotin-ejfv, as neoadjuvant treatment and then continued after cystectomy as adjuvant treatment of adult patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). as a single agent for the treatment of adult patients with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG)-unresponsive, high-risk, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with carcinoma in situ (CIS) with or without papillary tumors who are ineligible for or have elected not to und
KEYTRUDA is a medicine that may treat certain cancers by working with your immune system. KEYTRUDA can cause your immune system to attack normal organs and tissues in any area of your body and can affect the way they work. These problems can sometimes become severe or life-threatening and can lead to death. You can have more than one of these problems at the same time.
These problems may happen anytime during treatment or even after your treatment has ended. Call or see your healthcare provider right away if you develop any new or worsening signs or symptoms, including: Lung problems cough shortness of breath chest pain Intestinal problems diarrhea (loose stools) or more frequent bowel movements than usual stools that are black, tarry, sticky, or have blood or mucus severe stomach-area (abdomen) pain or tenderness Liver problems yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes severe nausea or vomiting pain on the right side of your stomach area (abdomen) dark urine (tea colored) bleeding or bruising more easily than normal Hormone gland problems headaches that will not go away or unusual headaches eye sensitivity to light eye problems rapid heartbeat increased sweating extreme tiredness weight gain or weight loss feeling more hungry or thirsty than usual urinating more often than usual hair loss feeling cold constipation your voice gets deeper dizziness or fainting changes in mood or behavior, such as decreased sex drive, irritability, or forgetfulness Kidney problems decrease in your amount of urine blood in your urine swelling of your ankles loss of appetite Skin problems rash itching skin blistering or peeling painful sores or ulcers in your mouth or in your nose, throat, or genital area fever or flu-like symptoms swollen lymph nodes Problems can also happen in other organs and tissues.
These are not all of the signs and symptoms of immune system problems that can happen with KEYTRUDA. Call or see your healthcare provider right away for any new or worsening signs or symptoms, which may include: chest pain, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, swelling of ankles confusion, sleepiness, memory problems, changes in mood or behavior, stiff neck, balance problems, tingling or numbness of the arms or legs double vision, blurry vision, sensitivity to light, eye pain, changes in eyesight persistent or severe muscle pain or weakness, muscle cramps low red blood cells, bruising Infusion reactions that can sometimes be severe or life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms of infusion reactions may include: chills or shaking itching or rash flushing shortness of breath or wheezing dizziness feeling like passing out fever back pain Rejection of a transplanted organ or tissue. Your healthcare provider should tell you what signs and symptoms you should report and monitor you depending on the type of organ or tissue transplant that you have had.
Complications, including graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD), in people who have received a bone marrow (stem cell) transplant that uses donor stem cells (allogeneic). These complications can be serious and can lead to death. These complications may happen if you underwent transplantation either before or after being treated with KEYTRUDA.
Your healthcare provider will monitor you for these complications. Getting medical treatment right away may help keep these problems from becoming more serious. Your healthcare provider will check you for these problems during treatment with KEYTRUDA. Your healthcare provider may treat you with corticosteroid or hormone replacement medicines.
Your healthcare provider may also need to delay or completely stop treatment with KEYTRUDA if you have severe side effects. What is KEYTRUDA? KEYTRUDA is a prescription medicine used to treat: a kind of skin cancer called melanoma. KEYTRUDA may be used: when your melanoma has spread or cannot be removed by surgery (advanced melanoma), or in adults and children 12 years of age and older with Stage IIB, Stage IIC, or Stage III mel
KEYTRUDA can cause serious side effects. Common side effects of KEYTRUDA when used alone include: feeling tired, pain, including pain in muscles, rash, diarrhea, fever, cough, decreased appetite, itching, shortness of breath, constipation, bones or joints and stomach-area (abdominal) pain, nausea, and low levels of thyroid hormone.
Side effects of KEYTRUDA when used alone that are more common in children than in adults include: fever, vomiting, headache, stomach area (abdominal) pain, and low levels of white blood cells. Common side effects of KEYTRUDA when given with certain chemotherapy or chemotherapy with radiation therapy medicines include: feeling tired or weak, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, decreased appetite, rash, vomiting, cough, trouble breathing, fever, hair loss, inflammation of the nerves that may cause pain, weakness, and paralysis in the arms and legs, swelling of the lining of the mouth, nose, eyes, throat, intestines, or vagina, mouth sores, headache, weight loss, stomach-area (abdominal) pain, joint and muscle pain, trouble sleeping, blisters or rash on the palms of your hands and soles of your feet, urinary tract infection, low levels of thyroid hormone, skin irritation in the radiation area, trouble swallowing and dry mouth.
Common side effects of KEYTRUDA when given with chemotherapy and bevacizumab include: tingling or numbness of the arms or legs, hair loss, low red blood cell count, feeling tired or weak, nausea, low white blood cell count, diarrhea, high blood pressure, decreased platelet count, constipation, joint aches, vomiting, urinary tract infection, rash, low levels of thyroid hormone, decreased appetite, fever, mouth sores and nosebleed.
Common side effects of KEYTRUDA when given with axitinib include: diarrhea, feeling tired or weak, high blood pressure, liver problems, low levels of thyroid hormone, decreased appetite, blisters or rash on the palms of your hands and soles of your feet, nausea, mouth sores or swelling of the lining of the mouth, nose, eyes, throat, intestines, or vagina, hoarseness, rash, cough, and constipation.
Common side effects of KEYTRUDA when given with lenvatinib include: low levels of thyroid hormone, high blood pressure, feeling tired, diarrhea, joint and muscle pain, nausea, decreased appetite, vomiting, mouth sores, weight loss, stomach-area (abdominal) pain, urinary tract infection, protein in your urine, constipation, headache, bleeding, blisters or rash on the palms of your hands and soles of your feet, hoarseness, rash, liver problems, and kidney problems.
Common side effects of KEYTRUDA when given with belzutifan include: low red blood cell count, increased blood liver enzymes, feeling tired, and decreased white blood cell counts. Common side effects of KEYTRUDA when given with enfortumab vedotin-ejfv include: rash, tingling or numbness of the arms or legs, feeling tired or weak, itching, diarrhea, hair loss, weight loss, decreased appetite, dry eye, nausea, constipation, changes in sense of taste, and urinary tract infection.
Common side effects of KEYTRUDA when given with sacituzumab govitecan-hziy include: low red blood cell count, low white blood count, diarrhea, nausea, feeling tired or weak, hair loss, constipation, rash, vomiting, headache, and abdominal pain. These are not all the possible side effects of KEYTRUDA. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
sofidex [Internet]. Daloreum; c2026. Pembrolizumab; [reviewed 2026 Aug 2; cited 2026 Nov 10]. Available from: https://sofidex.com/patients/medicines/pembrolizumab
sofidex. (2026, August 2). Pembrolizumab. Daloreum. Retrieved November 10, 2026, from https://sofidex.com/patients/medicines/pembrolizumab
Pembrolizumab. sofidex. Reviewed August 2, 2026. Accessed November 10, 2026. https://sofidex.com/patients/medicines/pembrolizumab
The cited date is today’s, because a citation records when you read the page. The reviewed date is when a clinician last checked it.