PBS updates

Keytruda (Pembrolizumab)

pembrolizumab 100 mg/4 mL injection, 4 mL vial · INJECTION · PBS code 15335D

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: 2026-04-01.
  • • Repeats: 7.
  • • PBS program: IN.
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

Resectable locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, pharynx or larynx


Patient must have stage III-IVB squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, pharynx or larynx; AND

Patient must have tumour(s) that are resectable as assessed by the treating clinician; or

Patient must have undergone surgical resection; AND

Patient must have a WHO performance status of 1 or less; AND

Patient must not have experienced disease recurrence or progression while being treated with this drug for this condition; AND

The treatment must be commenced as neoadjuvant therapy and continued in combination with radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy after surgical resection; or

The treatment must be the sole PBS-subsidised systemic anti-cancer therapy for this condition; AND

The treatment must not exceed a total of 12 cumulative months, either as: (i) 17 doses (based on a 3-weekly dose regimen), (ii) 8 doses (based on a 6-weekly dose regimen) whichever comes first from the first dose of this drug regardless of if it was PBS/non-PBS subsidised; AND

Patient must be undergoing treatment with this drug administered once every 3 weeks - prescribe up to 7 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.