Cancer drug Pembroria has just been licensed in Vietnam: What you need to know

According to information from K Hospital, Pembrolizumab is the name of the active ingredient (active ingredient) invented by MSD of the United States, trade name Keytruda, 100mg/4ml vial. Pembrolizumab is essentially a monoclonal antibody against PD-1 and is a biological drug indicated for some types of cancer, belonging to the immunotherapy group. The drug is administered by intravenous infusion at a medical facility.

Keytruda has been licensed for circulation in Vietnam by the Drug Administration of Vietnam - Ministry of Health since 2017. Currently, Keytruda has been approved by the Ministry of Health for 14 indications including: malignant melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, classical Hodgkin lymphoma, urothelial carcinoma, head and neck squamous cell cancer.

Gastric cancer, cancer with high-grade microsatellite instability, Cervical cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, colorectal cancer with high-grade microsatellite instability or mismatch repair defect, primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma, esophageal cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, renal cell carcinoma.

Price Keytruda drug Currently about 62 million VND/bottle. The drug has a partial free support program for cancer patients who meet the conditions according to Decision No. 2205/QD-BYT dated July 2 of the Ministry of Health.

Pembroria is a biologic drug with the same active ingredient as Keytruda. (Photo: incentra)

The above support program is being implemented at K Hospital and many other hospitals nationwide. With this program, the maximum cost for a patient's treatment cycle is about 62 million VND with a dose of 200mg (2 bottles) and some cycles can be completely free, depending on the level of support the patient is approved for.

On October 31, the Drug Administration of Vietnam - Ministry of Health issued a circulation registration certificate for the drug Pembroria with the active ingredient pembrolizumab, 100mg/4ml vial, manufactured by Limited Liability Company “PK-137”, Russian Federation.

Pembroria is a biological drug with the same active ingredient as Keytruda, approved for the following indications: Melanoma, non-small cell lung carcinoma, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, classical Hodgkin lymphoma, urothelial carcinoma, esophageal carcinoma.

Cancers with high-grade microsatellite instability (MSI-H) or mismatch repair defects, cervical cancer, renal cell carcinoma, endometrial carcinoma, triple-negative breast cancer, adenocarcinoma of the stomach or gastroesophageal junction, cholangiocarcinoma.

The expected price of Pembroria is about 18 million VND/bottle, with the usual dose being 2 bottles for 1 treatment cycle. Thus, the cost for a patient's treatment cycle is about 36 million VND with a dose of 200mg (2 bottles). Currently, K Hospital is planning to purchase Pembroria for use in patients in the near future.

Not all patients with the cancers listed above are indicated to use pembrolizumab. The use of pembrolizumab depends on many factors such as: the patient's health, the type of tumor mutation, the stage of the disease... assessed by oncologists.

At K Hospital, treatment will be individualized for each patient. Based on many factors, the doctor will advise and provide a suitable treatment regimen to ensure effective treatment for the patient.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/thuoc-ung-thu-pembroria-vua-duoc-cap-phep-tai-viet-nam-nhung-diem-can-biet-5064933.html