How Is My Treatment Given?
KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) can be administered on it’s own, called monotherapy, or in combination with another treatment based on your cancer type.
Pembrolizumab monotherapy1
Pembrolizumab will be given to you in a hospital or clinic under the supervision of an experienced healthcare professional. Pembrolizumab will be given through an infusion into a vein (intravenous drip) every 3 weeks or every 6 weeks. It takes about 30 minutes to get each infusion. Nurses will help connect the drip and make sure that the solution is flowing correctly and safely.
Pembrolizumab in combination with chemotherapy1
Pembrolizumab will be administered once every 3 or 6 weeks through an infusion.
You will usually receive your chemotherapy treatment at a day unit or in hospital. The number of times you will be given chemotherapy will depend on exactly what your doctor has prescribed for you. It is often given every 3 to 4 weeks for a few months. There are different ways of having chemotherapy drugs. They are often infused into a vein (intravenous drip) over several hours. Your doctor will talk to you about the most suitable option for you.
Pembrolizumab in combination with chemotherapy and bevacizumab2
In some cases, you may be prescribed pembrolizumab with chemotherapy and bevacizumab. Your doctor or nurse will give you bevacizumab as a solution by infusion once every 2 or 3 weeks. The number of infusions that you receive will depend on how you are responding to treatment.
For further information, consult the bevacizumab Patient Information Leaflet.
Pembrolizumab in combination with chemoradiotherapy (CRT)
Pembrolizumab may be used in some cases in combination with chemoradiotherapy. Your doctor or nurse will give you pembrolizumab concurrent with chemoradiotherapy, followed by pembrolizumab as monotherapy. Pembrolizumab can be administered as either every 3 weeks or 6 weeks until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity or up to 24 months.
Pembrolizumab in combination with antibody-drug conjugates (enfortumab vedotin)3
When given in combination with pembrolizumab, the recommended dose of enfortumab vedotin is 1.25 mg/kg (up to a maximum of 125 mg for patients ≥100 kg) administered as an intravenous infusion over 30 minutes on Days 1 and 8 of every 3-week (21-day) cycle until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
In combination with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), such as axitinib or lenvatinib
Pembrolizumab will be administered once every 3 or 6 weeks through an infusion.
Pembrolizumab in combination with axitinib4
Axitinib is a tablet that you take 2 times a day, 12 hours apart. The standard axitinib tablet is a 5-mg dose., sometimes doctors may change to a different dose of axitinib. Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist will let you know the exact dose of axitinib that you will receive.
For further information, consult the axitinib Patient Information Leaflet.
Pembrolizumab in combination with lenvatinib5
Lenvatinib is a capsule that has a yellow body and a yellowish-red cap. The standard lenvatinib dose in combination with pembrolizumab is 20 mg (two 10-mg capsules) taken once daily.
Sometimes, doctors may change to a different dose of lenvatinib. Your doctor, nurse or pharmacist will let you know the exact dose of lenvatinib that you will receive.
For further information, consult the lenvatinib Patient Information Leaflet.
References:
- KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) Patient Information Leaflet.
- AVASTIN® (Bevacizumab) Patient Information Leaflet.
- Padcev (Enfortumab vedotin) patient information leaflet.
- INLYTA® (axitinib) Patient Information Leaflet.
- Lenvatinib Eisai Patient Information Leaflet.
Supporting documentation
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab)
Summary of Product Characteristics | Patient Information Leaflet
Take your medicine as prescribed and inform your doctor, pharmacist or nurse immediately if you get any side effects. Always read the Patient Information Leaflet of any medicine you have been prescribed.
GB-PDO-03335 | Date of Preparation: July 2025
Merck Sharp & Dohme (UK) Limited Registered Office: 120 Moorgate, London, EC2M 6UR, United Kingdom.
Registered in England No. 233687 © 2025 Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and its affiliates. All rights reserved.
GB-NON-11683 | Date of Preparation: July 2025
Reporting of side effects: If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.