Overview
Keytruda Qlex is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of melanoma. It is approved for adults with unresectable or metastatic melanoma and for adults and children 12 years and older as adjuvant (postsurgery) treatment following complete resection of stage 2B, 2C, or 3 melanoma. Keytruda Qlex is also known by its drug name, pembrolizumab and berahyaluronidase alfa-pmph.

Keytruda Qlex is a type of immunotherapy. It works by blocking the PD-1 protein on immune cells, which helps the immune system recognize and attack melanoma cells. Berahyaluronidase alfa helps the medication absorb more efficiently when injected under the skin.

How do I take it?
Prescribing information states that Keytruda Qlex is given as a subcutaneous (under the skin) injection into the abdomen or thigh by a healthcare provider. It is typically administered once every three or six weeks, depending on the dosing schedule. It should be administered exactly as prescribed by a healthcare provider.

Side effects
Common side effects of Keytruda Qlex include fatigue, nausea, musculoskeletal pain (pain in muscles, bones, or joints), rash, diarrhea, decreased appetite, cough, shortness of breath, constipation, abdominal pain, fever, itching, and hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone levels).

Rare but serious side effects may include immune-mediated reactions such as pneumonitis (lung inflammation), colitis (intestinal inflammation), hepatitis (liver inflammation), endocrinopathies (hormone gland problems), nephritis (kidney inflammation), severe skin reactions, and rejection of transplanted organs. Severe allergic reactions and complications following stem cell transplant may also occur. The drug may cause harm to an unborn baby and is not recommended during pregnancy.

For more information about this treatment, visit:

Keytruda Qlex (Pembrolizumab and Berahyaluronidase Alfa-Pmph) Injection, for Subcutaneous Use — Merck Sharp & Dohme