Pembrolizumab for untreated metastatic colorectal cancer with high microsatellite instability or mismatch repair deficiency

2.1 Pembrolizumab (Keytruda; Merck Sharp and Dohme) has a marketing authorisation as monotherapy 'for the first-line treatment of metastatic microsatellite instability-high or mismatch repair deficient colorectal cancer in adults'.

2.2 The dosage schedule is available in the summary of product characteristics.

2.3 The list price of pembrolizumab is £2,630 per 100-mg vial (excluding VAT; BNF online, accessed March 2021). The cost of a single administration is £5,260. This represents 3 weeks of treatment.

2.4 The company has a commercial arrangement. This makes pembrolizumab available to the NHS with a discount. The size of the discount is commercial in confidence. It is the company's responsibility to let relevant NHS organisations know details of the discount.