The Gut Cancer Foundation is heartened to receive news of widened access of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for microsatellite instability high or deficient mismatch repair (MSI-H/dMMR) colorectal cancer (CRC) patients.
Pharmac has listened to clinicians and patient groups, including Gut Cancer Foundation and as a result of this, pembrolizumab will also be offered to patients with MSI-H/dMMR CRC who have already been treated with other systemic treatments. We are delighted to see this option become available for a group of patients who haven't had any new treatments funded for over 20 years.
This gives access to more people that the original criteria and those who are currently self-funding this treatment will be able to have that financial burden removed.
This patient group can now discuss access to pembrolizumab with their oncologists.
Pembrolizumab is a targeted cancer medicine, called immunotherapy (an immune checkpoint inhibitor) which work by helping the body’s immune system to fight cancer cells. They are administered as intravenous infusions in hospitals.
You can read Pharmac's press release here
You can see the 1 News coverage here