PBS updates

Keytruda (Pembrolizumab)

pembrolizumab 100 mg/4 mL injection, 4 mL vial · INJECTION · PBS code 13635P

STREAMLINED

What it costs

AU$3632.56 PBS-determined price per pack

Most patients pay only the standard PBS co-payment, not the full price above — up to AU$25.00 per script (general) or AU$7.70 (concession/Safety Net) in 2026. The figure above is what the PBS pays the pharmacy; the Australian Government subsidises the rest. Always confirm the current amount with your pharmacist.

  • • First listed on the PBS: 2023-10-01.
  • • Repeats: 6.
  • • PBS program: IP.
Eligibility criteria for subsidised access

The following is the government's own wording from the PBS Schedule, shown unchanged.

Listing of Pharmaceutical Benefits (NHL) - Schedule 4 part 1

Advanced carcinoma of the cervix


Initial treatment


The condition must be at least one of (i) persistent carcinoma, (ii) recurrent carcinoma, (iii) metastatic carcinoma of the cervix; AND

The condition must be unsuitable for curative treatment with either of (i) surgical resection, (ii) radiation; AND

Patient must have WHO performance status no higher than 1; AND

Patient must not have received prior PBS-subsidised treatment with a programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) inhibitor or a programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) inhibitor in any earlier line of carcinoma of the cervix; AND

Patient must be undergoing concomitant treatment with chemotherapy, containing a minimum of: (i) a platinum-based chemotherapy agent, plus (ii) paclitaxel; AND

Patient must be undergoing treatment with this drug administered once every 3 weeks - prescribe up to 6 repeat prescriptions; or

Patient must be undergoing treatment with this drug administered once every 6 weeks - prescribe up to 3 repeat prescriptions.

Listing of Pharmaceutical Benefits (NHL) - Schedule 4 part 1

Advanced carcinoma of the cervix


Continuing treatment


Patient must have previously received PBS-subsidised treatment with this drug for this indication; AND

The condition must not have progressed while receiving PBS-subsidised treatment with this drug for this indication; AND

The treatment must not exceed a total of (i) 24 months, (ii) 35 doses (based on a 3-weekly dose regimen), (iii) 17 doses (based on a 6-weekly dose regimen) whichever comes first from the first dose of this drug regardless if it was PBS/non-PBS subsidised; AND

Patient must be undergoing treatment with this drug administered once every 3 weeks - prescribe up to 6 repeat prescriptions; or

Patient must be undergoing treatment with this drug administered once every 6 weeks - prescribe up to 3 repeat prescriptions.

Sponsor: Merck Sharp & Dohme (Australia) Pty Ltd ABN 14 000 173 508

Not medical advice. Voxsanity republishes public PBS data in plain English. PBS listing status and criteria can change; always confirm current subsidised availability with your doctor or pharmacist.

Source: Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), © Commonwealth of Australia. Data used and redistributed under permission; not modified from its original wording where displayed verbatim.