skip to main content

Pembrolizumab 6-weekly — SCE Medical Oncology MCQ

Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.

EasyLung CancerPembrolizumab 6-weeklySCE Medical Oncology

A 62-year-old man with NSCLC has pembrolizumab prescribed at 400 mg every 6 weeks instead of the original 200 mg every 3 weeks. Is this change evidence-based?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: B — Yes — pharmacokinetic modelling and KEYNOTE-555 cohort B confirmed that pembrolizumab 400 mg Q6W achieves equivalent exposure to 200 mg Q3W — this extended dosing reduces hospital visits by 50% without compromising efficacy

Pembrolizumab 400 mg Q6W was approved based on pharmacokinetic modelling demonstrating equivalent steady-state exposure to 200 mg Q3W, confirmed by KEYNOTE-555 cohort B safety/efficacy data. This reduces hospital visits by 50%, improving patient convenience and reducing NHS resource utilisation. NICE TAs were updated to include both dosing schedules. Similarly, nivolumab has 480 mg Q4W dosing (equivalent to 240 mg Q2W). These extended-interval dosing schedules were particularly valuable during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reference: NICE TA531 updated; KEYNOTE-555; ESMO 2024 NSCLC