How Much Does Keytruda Cost Per Month?

Keytruda (generic name: pembrolizumab) is a monoclonal antibody immunotherapy used in many cancer types. Its cost is very high and depends heavily on dose, frequency, insurance/coverage, and region.

Latest List Prices & Average Monthly Costs (US)

* List price = wholesale acquisition cost; most patients do not pay this in full. Out-of-pocket depends on insurance, co-pays, deductible. Keytruda+1

So broadly, at list price, Keytruda costs about $15,000-$16,000 per month for standard dosing regimens in the U.S.

What Influences What You Actually Pay

The real cost to a patient is usually much lower than list price, depending on:

• Insurance coverage (private, Medicare, etc.)

• Deductibles, co-pays, coinsurance

• Whether prior authorization is required Healthline+1

• Financial assistance programs from Merck or other charitable/patient-support organizations Medical News Today+2Drugs.com+2

• Infusion center fees, administration costs, hospital charges Medical News Today

For example, Merck reports that for commercially insured U.S. patients getting the 200 mg every 3 weeks dose, 59% paid $0 out-of-pocket, and for those who did pay, about 80% paid between $0.01 and $375 per infusion after deductible. Keytruda

Regional / Global Variation

• In Europe, list costs are generally lower (though still high), but vary by country due to negotiation, reimbursement systems. (Specific up-to-date price figures for Europe are less publicly standardized in sources.)

• In medical tourism markets, or in countries with public systems that negotiate drug costs, cost can be significantly less. For instance, some clinics in Germany charge in five-figure USD amounts for a course of Keytruda, but spread over infusions. Bookimed

Recent & Projected Price Policy Changes

• Under the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act, Merck expects Keytruda to be selected for government price setting starting in 2026, with implementation in 2028. This is expected to lower prices for Medicare patients. Fierce Pharma+1

• Patent expiration in 2028 will further open door for generics or biosimilars (or similar-products) which may reduce cost. Fierce Pharma+1

Keyword & CPC Insights

Here are keywords likely to drive traffic / value, with generally high CPC because they are in the pharmaceutical / health-insurance domain. (Estimates: US market, English language; actual CPC depends on competition, region.)

How Much Does Keytruda Cost Per Year?

If dosing continues at 200 mg every 3 weeks (≈ 17 doses/year):

• List cost ≈ 17 × $11,795 = ≈ $200,500 / year Keytruda

If dosing every 6 weeks 400 mg: ~8.5 infusions/year → ~8.5 × $23,590.88 ≈ $200,500 / year (roughly the same, since it's similar dose over time) Keytruda

News & Policy Updates

• Merck expects price negotiation under U.S. law effective 2026; changes may reduce Medicare’s price for Keytruda. Fierce Pharma+1

• There is also a looming patent cliff in 2028, which may allow competition (biosimilars), putting downward pressure on pricing. Fierce Pharma+1

FAQs

Q1. Is Keytruda covered by insurance / Medicare?
A: Yes in many cases. In the U.S., Medicare Part B may cover Keytruda when medically necessary. Private insurance often does too, subject to prior authorization, co-pays, deductibles. Some patients end up paying little or zero out-of-pocket due to strong insurer negotiation or assistance programs. Medical News Today+1

Q2. Are there programs to reduce cost if one cannot afford Keytruda?
A: Yes. Merck offers financial support / co-pay assistance programs. Also charitable foundations and patient assistance programs (PAPs) can help. Estimates from sources suggest some patients pay as little as $25 per infusion under copay assistance. Medical News Today+1

Q3. Why is Keytruda so expensive?
Factors include:

• Biologic manufacturing (complex, expensive, high R&D cost)

• Clinical trial costs, regulatory requirements

• Patent protection (monopoly pricing)

• Marketing, distribution, hospital/infusion service costs

• Lack of competition (biosimilars not yet widely available) Medical News Today+1

Q4. Will price go down in the future?
Quite likely: patent expiry + government negotiation (in U.S.) + possible biosimilars. However, actual out-of-pocket reductions depend heavily on insurance, policy, subsidy. Fierce Pharma+1

Q5. How does cost differ by country / region?
In countries with negotiated pricing and public payers, cost tends to be significantly lower. But public data is often proprietary; list prices in Europe etc. are less transparent. In medical tourism settings, entire courses may be offered more cheaply. Bookimed+1

Conclusion

Keytruda remains among the most expensive cancer therapies on the market. At list price in the U.S., you’re looking at approximately $15,000–$16,000 per month for standard dosing, amounting to over $200,000/year. Thankfully, insurance and assistance programs significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs for many.

Policy changes (price negotiation, patent expiry) may help reduce cost pressures starting 2026-2028. If you’re writing content, targeting high CPC keywords like “Keytruda cost with insurance”, “Keytruda price per dose”, “Why Keytruda is so expensive” is smart. But be sure to use credible sources, physician/drug manufacturer statements, policy announcements, etc.