An investigation by The Indian Express has found that accessing Keytruda in India, even through the company’s own patient assistance scheme, is beset with financial, logistical and regulatory barriers that put the drug out of reach for the overwhelming majority of patients who need it. On Monday, we reported on how the access squeeze has led to a burgeoning multi-city black market in Keytruda. Keytruda is the brand name of Pembrolizumab, which is manufactured and sold by pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co (MSD), and is a type of immunotherapy that has shown survival benefit for several cancers. Globally approved for scores of cancers, the company’s patient access programme in India supports it for 10 types of cancer, including specific forms of lung cancer, head and neck cancer, cervical cancer, renal cancer and melanoma. Its effectiveness has made it the world’s best-selling drug, with sales surging to $29.5 billion in 2024, accounting for nearly half of Merck’s revenue. Yet in India, it remains inaccessible to most patients who need it. READ THE FULL STORY HERE |
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