Drug guidance
Pembrolizumab for treating locally advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma
Condition
Cancer
Gastrointestinal tract
4 June 2025
Published on 17 Feb 2025
Last Updated on 4 Jun 2025
Guidance Recommendations
The Ministry of Health’s Drug Advisory Committee has not recommended pembrolizumab for inclusion on the MOH List of Subsidised Drugs, when used in combination with trastuzumab, fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy, for patients with untreated locally advanced unresectable or metastatic human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, whose tumours express programmed death-ligand 1 with a combined positive score greater than or equal to 1. The decision was based on the unfavourable cost-effectiveness of pembrolizumab and an unacceptable pricing proposal from the company.
Clinical indication, subsidy class and MediShield Life claim limit for pembrolizumab are provided in the Annex.