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How long does it take for Keytruda to work?

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Nov 3, 2023.

Official answer

by Drugs.com

The time it takes for Keytruda to work can vary based on the type and stage of cancer. Typically, a response to treatment becomes apparent within 2-4 months of starting Keytruda. This timeframe is referred to as "time to response," which measures when a patient's cancer begins to show signs of responding to the treatment. You can find the specific "time to response" data from clinical trials in the table below.

Keytruda (pembrolizumab) is a medication used to treat various types of cancer. It's administered through a 30-minute intravenous infusion every 3-6 weeks. Keytruda is a type of immunotherapy that helps your immune system target cancer cells that may be hiding.

Time to response following treatment with Keytruda

Cancer Type
(Trial name)		 Median Time to Response
Melanoma
(KEYNOTE-006)		 Keytruda: 85-86 days (range 32-251)
vs
Yervoy (ipilimumab): 87 days (range 80-250)
Melanoma
(KEYNOTE-002)		 Keytruda: 13-15 weeks (IQR 12-18)
vs
Investigator-choice (paclitaxel plus carboplatin, paclitaxel, carboplatin, dacarbazine, or oral temozolomide): 13 weeks (12-18)
Non-small cell lung cancer
(KEYNOTE-189)		 Keytruda + pemetrexed + cisplatin or carboplatin: 1.4 months (1.2-3.0)
vs
Placebo + Alimta (pemetrexed) + cisplatin or carboplatin: 1.4 months (1.2-4.9)
Non-small cell lung cancer
(KEYNOTE-407)		 Keytruda + carboplatin + paclitaxel or Abraxane (nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel): 1.4 months
vs
Placebo + carboplatin + paclitaxel or Abraxane: 1.4 months
Non-small cell lung cancer
(KEYNOTE-024)		 Keytruda: 2.2 months
vs
Investigator-choice (carboplatin plus pemetrexed, cisplatin plus pemetrexed, carboplatin plus gemcitabine, cisplatin plus gemcitabine, or carboplatin plus paclitaxel): 2.2 months
Head and neck squamous cell cancer
(KEYNOTE-012)		 Keytruda: 2 months (2-17)
Classical Hodgkin lymphoma
(KEYNOTE-204)		 Keytruda: 2.8 months (1.0-31.2)
vs
Adcetris (brentuximab vedotin): 2.8 months (1.0-7.3)
Classical Hodgkin lymphoma
(KEYNOTE-087)		 Keytruda: 2.8 months (2.1-16.5)
Primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma
(KEYNOTE-170)		 Keytruda: 2.9 months (2.4-8.5)
Urothelial Carcinoma
(KEYNOTE-052)		 Keytruda: 2.1 months (1.3-9.0)
Urothelial Carcinoma
(KEYNOTE-045)		 Keytruda: 2.1 months (1.4-6.3)
vs
Investigator-choice (paclitaxel, Taxotere (docetaxel), Javlor (vinflunine)): 2.1 months (1.7-4.9)
Microsatellite instability-high or mismatch repair deficient cancer
(KEYNOTE-164)		 Keytruda: Following ≥2 prior lines of standard chemotherapy - 4.3 months (1.8-24.9)
Following ≥1 prior lines of standard chemotherapy - 3.9 months (1.8-12.5)
Microsatellite instability-high or mismatch repair deficient cancer
(KEYNOTE-012)		 Keytruda: 2 months (2-17)
Microsatellite instability-high or mismatch repair deficient cancer
(KEYNOTE-028)		 Keytruda: 2 months (1.7-3.7)
Microsatellite instability-high or mismatch repair deficient cancer
(KEYNOTE-158)		 Keytruda: 2.1 months
Microsatellite instability-high or mismatch repair deficient colorectal cancer
(KEYNOTE-177)		 Keytruda: 2.2 months (1.8-18.8)
vs
5-fluorouracil–based therapy with or without Avastin (bevacizumab) or Erbitux (cetuximab): 2.1 (1.7-24.9)
Gastric cancer
(KEYNOTE-059)		 Keytruda: 2.1 months (1.7-6.6)
Esophageal cancer
(KEYNOTE-180)		 Keytruda: 4.1 months (2.0-6.3)
Hepatocellular carcinoma
(KEYNOTE-224)		 Keytruda: 2.1 months (1.8-4.8)
Merkel cell carcinoma
(KEYNOTE-017)		 Keytruda: 2.8 months (1.5-9.7)
Renal cell carcinoma
(KEYNOTE-426)		 Keytruda + Inlyta (axitinib): 2.8 months (1.5-16.6)
vs
Sutent (sunitinib): 2.9 months (2.1-15.1)
Endometrial carcinoma
(KEYNOTE-775)		 Keytruda + Lenvima (lenvatinib): 2.1 months
vs
Investigator choice (doxorubicin or paclitaxel): 2.1 months
Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma
(KEYNOTE-629)		 Keytruda: 2.0 months (1.4-3.3)
Biliary tract cancer
(KEYNOTE-966)		 Not reported

Related Questions

References
  • Keytruda Product Label. Revised 10/2023. https://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/k/keytruda/keytruda_pi.pdf
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  • FDA Approves Merck’s Keytruda (pembrolizumab) Plus Gemcitabine and Cisplatin as Treatment for Patients With Locally Advanced Unresectable or Metastatic Biliary Tract Cancer. Nov 1, 2023. https://www.drugs.com/newdrugs/fda-approves-merck-s-keytruda-pembrolizumab-plus-gemcitabine-cisplatin-patients-locally-advanced-6135.html

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