| Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma
Keytruda vs Xalkori
Side-by-side clinical, coverage, and cost comparison for non-small cell lung carcinoma.Deep comparison between: Keytruda vs Xalkori with Prescriber.AI
AI compares prescribing info and payer-specific access barriers across 1,200+ formularies. Here's a preview of what prescribers are already asking.Safety signalsXalkori has a higher rate of injection site reactions vs Keytruda based on FDA-approved prescribing information
Coverage gaps3 major payers require step therapy for Xalkori but not Keytruda, including UnitedHealthcare
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Category
Keytruda
Xalkori
At A Glance
IV infusion
Every 3 weeks or Every 6 weeks
PD-1 inhibitor
Oral
Twice daily
ALK/ROS1 inhibitor
Indications
- melanoma
- Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma
- Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
- Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
- Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Mediastinal (Thymic) Large B-Cell Lymphoma
- Urothelial Carcinoma
- Colorectal Carcinoma
- Stomach Carcinoma
- Esophageal carcinoma
- Cervix carcinoma
- Liver carcinoma
- Biliary Tract Cancer
- Merkel cell carcinoma
- Renal Cell Carcinoma
- Endometrial Carcinoma
- Triple-Negative Breast Carcinoma
- Malignant neoplasm of ovary
- Squamous cell carcinoma of skin
- Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma
- Ki-1+ Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma
- Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor
Dosing
melanoma 200 mg every 3 weeks or 400 mg every 6 weeks IV; 2 mg/kg (up to 200 mg) every 3 weeks IV for pediatrics
Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma 200 mg every 3 weeks or 400 mg every 6 weeks IV
Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma 200 mg every 3 weeks or 400 mg every 6 weeks IV
Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck 200 mg every 3 weeks or 400 mg every 6 weeks IV
Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma 200 mg every 3 weeks or 400 mg every 6 weeks IV for adults; 2 mg/kg (up to 200 mg) every 3 weeks IV for pediatrics
Mediastinal (Thymic) Large B-Cell Lymphoma 200 mg every 3 weeks or 400 mg every 6 weeks IV for adults; 2 mg/kg (up to 200 mg) every 3 weeks IV for pediatrics
Urothelial Carcinoma 200 mg every 3 weeks or 400 mg every 6 weeks IV
Colorectal Carcinoma 200 mg every 3 weeks or 400 mg every 6 weeks IV for adults; 2 mg/kg (up to 200 mg) every 3 weeks IV for pediatrics
Stomach Carcinoma 200 mg every 3 weeks or 400 mg every 6 weeks IV
Esophageal carcinoma 200 mg every 3 weeks or 400 mg every 6 weeks IV
Cervix carcinoma 200 mg every 3 weeks or 400 mg every 6 weeks IV
Liver carcinoma 200 mg every 3 weeks or 400 mg every 6 weeks IV
Biliary Tract Cancer 200 mg every 3 weeks or 400 mg every 6 weeks IV
Merkel cell carcinoma 200 mg every 3 weeks or 400 mg every 6 weeks IV for adults; 2 mg/kg (up to 200 mg) every 3 weeks IV for pediatrics
Renal Cell Carcinoma 200 mg every 3 weeks or 400 mg every 6 weeks IV as single agent or in combination with axitinib 5 mg orally twice daily or lenvatinib 20 mg orally once daily
Endometrial Carcinoma 200 mg every 3 weeks or 400 mg every 6 weeks IV in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel, or with lenvatinib 20 mg orally once daily, or as single agent for MSI-H or dMMR tumors
Triple-Negative Breast Carcinoma 200 mg every 3 weeks or 400 mg every 6 weeks IV
Malignant neoplasm of ovary 200 mg every 3 weeks or 400 mg every 6 weeks IV
Squamous cell carcinoma of skin 200 mg every 3 weeks or 400 mg every 6 weeks IV
Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma Adults: 250 mg orally twice daily until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
Ki-1+ Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma Pediatric patients 1 year of age and older and young adults: 280 mg/m2 orally twice daily (BSA-based dosing) until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor Adults: 250 mg orally twice daily; pediatric patients 1 year of age and older: 280 mg/m2 orally twice daily (BSA-based dosing), until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
Contraindications
—
Adverse Reactions
Most common (>=20%) fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, decreased appetite, rash, diarrhea, nausea, cough, dyspnea, constipation, pruritus, hypothyroidism
Serious pneumonitis, colitis, hepatitis, endocrinopathies, nephritis with renal dysfunction, dermatologic adverse reactions, myocarditis, neurological toxicities, infusion-related reactions, immune-mediated adverse reactions
Postmarketing exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, sclerosing cholangitis
Most common (>=25%) Vision disorders, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, edema, constipation, elevated transaminases, fatigue, decreased appetite, upper respiratory infection, dizziness, neuropathy.
Serious Hepatotoxicity, interstitial lung disease/pneumonitis, QT interval prolongation, bradycardia, severe visual loss, gastrointestinal toxicity (in pediatric/young adult ALCL or pediatric IMT patients).
Postmarketing Increased blood creatine phosphokinase.
Pharmacology
Pembrolizumab is a PD-1 blocking antibody that releases PD-1 pathway-mediated inhibition of the immune response by preventing the interaction of PD-1 with its ligands PD-L1 and PD-L2, thereby restoring anti-tumor immune response.
Crizotinib is an inhibitor of receptor tyrosine kinases including ALK, ROS1, c-Met, and RON; it blocks ALK fusion protein-driven oncogenic signaling, inhibiting tumor cell proliferation and survival.
Enter your patient's insuranceCheck specific coverage details for your patient.
Most Common Insurance
Anthem BCBS
Keytruda
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (12/12) · Step Therapy (0/12) · Qty limit (0/12)
Xalkori
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (11/12) · Step Therapy (0/12) · Qty limit (11/12)
UnitedHealthcare
Keytruda
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (0/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
Xalkori
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (2/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
Humana
Keytruda
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (3/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · Qty limit (2/3)
Xalkori
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (3/3) · Step Therapy (3/3) · Qty limit (2/3)
Coverage data sourced from MMIT. Updated monthly.
Savings
No savings programs available for Keytruda.
Cost estimate not availableAssistance Fund: Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
Commercial or private insurance
Medicare, Medicaid, VA, TRICARE
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Clinical data sourced from FDA-approved labeling. Coverage data via MMIT. Updated monthly.