How does the cancer drug Keytruda work? And how is it different from chemo?
From today, the Australian government will expand Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) access to the drug Keytruda for three additional types of cancer.
Keytruda, also known as pembrolizumab, is an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody that works by blocking the interaction between PD-L1 and PD-1. PD-1 is a protein that serves as an immune system brake to prevent healthy cells from being attacked, while PD-L1 is a protein that some cancers express on their surface to hinder immune system T cells from attacking the cancer.
By blocking PD-L1's interaction with PD-1, Keytruda reactivates the immune system, allowing it to fight the cancer itself. This approach is different from traditional chemotherapy, which is composed of small molecules that target fast-growing cells indiscriminately, causing damage to both cancerous and healthy cells. As a result, chemotherapy often leads to severe side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, bone marrow damage, and hair loss.
In contrast, Keytruda's side effects tend to be milder, although doctors still need to manage them. The drug was first approved in 2014 for advanced melanoma and has since shown significant improvements in survival rates for various cancers, including cervical, renal cell carcinoma, triple-negative breast cancer, squamous cell carcinomas of the pharynx, larynx, and mouth, as well as advanced bile duct and ovarian cancers, and Merkel cell carcinoma.
The expanded PBS access to Keytruda in Australia for these additional cancer types will provide significant cost savings for patients and their families.
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