MSD reviews Keytruda’s accomplishments on 1st anniversary of expanded reimbursement

MSD’s lung cancer immunotherapy Keytruda (pembrolizumab) has confirmed long-term clinical benefits for all metastatic non-small cell lung cancer patients, including PD-L1 expression negative type, through consistent study, solidifying its evidence as a global treatment option.

MSD Korea unveiled an infographic to illuminate Keytruda’s value, innovation, and results in treating lung cancer on the first anniversary of its receiving insurance benefits as the primary treatment for NSCLC on Monday.

In March last year, Keytroday’s health insurance coverage expanded to all metastatic NSCLC patients, including those with no PD-L1 expression and both comb- and mono-primary palliative treatment for NSCLC for the first time among immunotherapies, sharply increasing treatment access for Korean patients.

Keytruda showed twice improved five-year survival rates compared to existing anticancer chemotherapies and other treatment and safety effects through phase 3 long-term follow-up data, cementing its position as the standard treatment for metastatic NSCLC.

The U.S. National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guideline recommends Keytruda as the “preferred” option for global standard treatment for metastatic NSCLC.

“Keytruda is a treatment that opens more tomorrows for metastatic NSCLC patients,” said Lee Min-hee, managing director for the anticancer business at MSD Korea. “Notably, it confirmed superior benefits as shown by data regarding patients’ access and five-year long-term survival rate on the occasion of expanded reimbursement last year, creating a turning point for more tomorrows for metastatic lung cancer patients.”

In April 2016, Keytruda won domestic approval as the secondary treatment for progressive NSCLC and expanded its indication to the primary treatment for metastatic NSCLC treatment in March 2017.

Afterward, it expanded its treatment option to combined therapies, providing treatment opportunities for patients without PD-L1 expression.

MSD Korea plans to share Keytruda’s positive influence on the domestic lung cancer treatment environment with medical professionals and other related parties on the first anniversary of expanded reimbursement.

As part of such campaigns, the company held an in-house event to reaffirm efforts to improve the domestic cancer treatment environment, displaying related infographics at its Seoul office and internal online network.

“It is significant Keytruda exerted a positive influence on numerous Korean lung cancer patients and their families over the past year, setting a milestone in the primary treatment of NSCLC,” Managing Director Lee said. “MSD Korea will cheer cancer patients to meet better days and make more efforts as their partner to improve lung cancer treatment in Korea.”

Meanwhile, Keytruda has won approval in nine cancers, including lung, esophageal and cervical cancer, and NCCN guidelines recommend it as a “preferred” treatment in seven cancers, including lung cancer.

In Korea, Keytruda has won approval for 24 indications in 16 cancers, the most among immunotherapies, emerging as the anticancer therapy with the largest market share, according to the company.