Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Health
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Keytruda (pembrolizumab) is a widely used immunotherapy manufactured by Merck & Co.
Inhibitor drug -It belongs to a class called “checkpoint inhibitors”, drugs that remove the brakes preventing the body’s T cells.
T cells are a crucial weapon in the body’s immune system, from attacking cancerous cells.
Category -Keytruda belongs to the category of monoclonal antibodies, which are laboratory-made molecules designed to bind with specific targets, enabling the immune system to identify and destroy cancerous cells.
Mechanism -It uses the body’s own immune system to fight cancer.
It acts as a checkpoint inhibitor, allowing T-cells to identify and destroy cancer cells.
It works by attaching to receptors called PD-1 on T cells.
This prevents T cells from binding with corresponding PD-L1 receptors on cancer cells, letting them identify the abnormal cells and triggering an immune response.
First approved by -The United States FDA in 2014 for advanced skin cancer.
It is the best-selling drug globally.
Treatment -It is effective in treating
Lung Cancer - Non-small cell (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC).
Skin Cancer - Melanoma, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, and Merkel cell carcinoma.
Other Cancers- Head and neck, breast (triple-negative), bladder (urothelial), cervical, colorectal, gastric, liver, renal cell carcinoma, and classical Hodgkin lymphoma.
Administration-It is given via intravenous (IV) infusion over 30 minutes every 3 or 6 weeks.
A newer subcutaneous (injection under the skin) formulation is also available.
Other Immunotherapies available in India - Several monoclonal antibodies, including Keytruda, are available in tertiary care hospitals across India.
Generic versions of some monoclonal antibodies exist, including trastuzumab and nivolumab, another PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor.
CAR-T therapy remains cost-intensive and technology-driven.
ImmunoAct, an IIT-Bombay incubated startup, developed India’s first indigenous CAR-T therapy called NexCar19, currently the most readily available option in the country.
Keytruda is utilized for advanced or metastatic cases, often as a first-line treatment.
