Pembrolizumab
Also Known As: Pembrolizumab, MK-3475, lambrolizumab, Keytruda
Pembrolizumab (formerly MK-3475 and lambrolizumab, trade name Keytruda[1]) is a human antibody used in cancer immunotherapy. It targets the programmed cell death 1(PD-1) receptor.[2] The drug was initially used in treating metastatic melanoma.[3][4]
Pembrolizumab was invented by Gregory Carven, Hans van Eenennaam and John Dulos at Organon Biosciences which later became Schering Plough Research Institute and then Merck & Co.[5] MRC Technology humanized the antibody pembrolizumab for Organon in 2006.
On September 4, 2014 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved pembrolizumab under the FDA Fast Track Development Program. It is approved for use following treatment with ipilimumab, or after treatment with ipilimumab and a BRAF inhibitor in advanced melanoma patients who carry a BRAF mutation.[6] It is marketed byMerck.
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