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Agency for Care Effectiveness
Drug guidance

Pembrolizumab for treating resectable locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

5 October 2026

Condition

Cancer

-

Published on 05 Oct 2026
Last Updated on 05 Oct 2026

Guidance Recommendations

The Ministry of Health’s Drug Advisory Committee has recommended:

  • Pembrolizumab 100 mg/4 mL solution for infusion for treatment of patients with resectable stage III-IVA locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma whose tumours express PD-L1 with a CPS ≥ 1 as determined by a validated test, as neoadjuvant treatment, continued as adjuvant treatment in combination with radiotherapy with or without concomitant cisplatin and then as monotherapy.

The decision was based on the acceptable clinical effectiveness and pricing proposal by the company.

Funding status

Pembrolizumab 100 mg/4 mL solution for infusion is recommended for inclusion on the Medication Assistance Fund (MAF) for the abovementioned indication from 1 December 2026.

Clinical indication, subsidy class and MediShield Life claims eligibility for pembrolizumab are provided in the Annex.

Pembrolizumab for treating resectable locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (Published 05 Oct 2026) [PDF, 254.23 KB] (opens in new tab)