Pembrolizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks the interaction between PD-1 and its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2. Pembrolizumab is an IgG4 kappa immunoglobulin with an approximate molecular weight of 149 kDa.
PARAMETER |
DATA |
Manufacturer |
MERCK SHARP DOHME |
Indication |
KEYTRUDA is a human programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1)-blocking antibody indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma and disease progression following ipilimumab and, if BRAF V600 mutation positive, a BRAF inhibitor |
Cell Substrate |
IgG4//kappa isotype monoclonal antibody |
Manufacturing platform |
MK-3475 is a humanized monoclonal antibody that is expressed as a secreted product from a suspension Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell line. A fully characterized Master Cell Bank (MCB) as well as a Working Cell Bank (WCB) was established. Cells from the WCB are expanded in shake flasks, disposable rocker bags, and a seed bioreactor to generate the inoculum for a production bioreactor to produce the antibody product. The downstream processing includes three chromatography steps, two Page 12/160 orthogonal viral clearance steps, ultrafiltration/diafiltration, and a final 0.2 µm filtration step. All raw materials used in upstream/downstream manufacturing processes are animal component free. Upstream and downstream processing is considered as state of the art for production of monoclonal antibodies |
Dose in vial/final container |
50 mg, lyophilized powder in single-use vial for reconstitution |
Dose to patient |
2 mg/kg as an intravenous infusion over 30 minutes every 3 weeks. |
CLINICAL TRIALS:
NCT |
TRIAL PHASE |
NO OF PATIENTS ENROLLED |
TITLE |
COUNTRIES |
Single arm/safety and response rate |
||||
NCT01295827 |
1 |
1260 |
- |
|
NCT01704287 |
2 |
540 |
- |
|
NCT01866319 |
3 |
834 |
- |
|
NCT01905657 |
2, 3 |
1061 |
- |
|
Safety and efficacy |
||||
NCT01848834 |
1 |
297 |
- |
US pre-BLA |
October 25, 2013 |
US Approval |
September 4, 2014 |
EU Approval |
July 17, 2015 |
Health Canada Approval |
May 19, 2015 |
Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) Approval |
December 20, 2016 |
TGA |
September 17, 2019 |
The BLA for pembrolizumab was not referred to an advisory committee although it is for a new molecular entity. The application did not raise significant public health questions on the role of the pembrolizumab for this indication and outside expertise was not necessary as there were no controversial issues that would benefit from an advisory committee discussion.