Drug guidance
Pembrolizumab for treating persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer
5 October 2026
Condition
Cancer
Gynaecological
Published on 02 Jan 2024
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, in combination with chemotherapy, with or without bevacizumab, for the treatment of persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer in patients whose tumours express programmed death-ligand 1 with a combined positive score greater than or equal to 1.
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.
Plain English Summary
Cervical cancer occurs when cells in the cervix grow uncontrollably and form a mass (tumour). Symptoms can include heavy periods, abnormal bleeding between periods, and pain. Treatment for cervical cancer depends on how far the cancer has spread in the cervix. Cancer that has spread to other parts of the body is known as metastatic disease. If the cancer does not go away with treatment, it is called persistent disease, and if it worsens or comes back again after treatment, it is called recurrent disease.
Some cervical cancers have high levels of PD-L1 (programmed death-ligand 1), a protein that can help cancer cells avoid being attacked by the body’s immune system. A combined positive score (CPS) measures the amount of PD-L1 and can help identify which patients may benefit from certain treatments.
Pembrolizumab is an immunotherapy known as a PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor. It helps the body’s immune system find and attack cancer cells. For cervical cancer, it is given as a slow drip into a vein (intravenously) in combination with chemotherapy, with or without bevacizumab.
Pembrolizumab, in combination with chemotherapy, with or without bevacizumab biosimilar (subsidised brand), was recommended for government funding for patients whose tumours have a PD-L1 CPS of 1 or more, because it was considered an acceptable use of healthcare resources. It is included in the Medication Assistance Fund (MAF) (opens in new tab), with its cost subsidised by 40% to 75% for eligible patients. It can also be claimed under MediShield Life. The subsidy class and MediShield Life claim limits are available here (opens in new tab).
Pembrolizumab has not been recommended for subsidy when it is used in combination with a non-subsidised brand of bevacizumab.