Pembrolizumab is an immune checkpoint inhibitor, specifically an anti-programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) therapy, that enhances the body’s immune response to detect and combat tumour cells. It is a humanised monoclonal antibody that blocks the interaction between PD-1 and its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, thereby activating T lymphocytes, which can target both tumour and healthy cells. Pembrolizumab as a single agent reduces the risk of death in NSCLC patients by 40%, significantly extending survival by more than a year with fewer sides effects compared to traditional chemotherapy . First approved in 2014, pembrolizumab has since gained approval for 18 types of cancer, including lung cancer and certain early-stage and advanced cancers. MSD holds the exclusive patent rights on pembrolizumab until 2028 with patents filed or granted in at least 15 LMICs.

Patent & licence data in LMICs

Acronyms & abbreviations list