| Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
Erbitux vs Keytruda
Side-by-side clinical, coverage, and cost comparison for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.Deep comparison between: Erbitux vs Keytruda 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 signalsKeytruda has a higher rate of injection site reactions vs Erbitux based on FDA-approved prescribing information
Coverage gaps3 major payers require step therapy for Keytruda but not Erbitux, including UnitedHealthcare
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Category
Erbitux
Keytruda
At A Glance
IV infusion
Weekly or every 2 weeks
EGFR antagonist
IV infusion
Every 3 weeks or Every 6 weeks
PD-1 inhibitor
Indications
- Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
- Metastasis from malignant neoplasm of colon and/or rectum
- 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
Dosing
Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck In combination with radiation therapy: initial 400 mg/m2 IV (120-min) one week prior to radiation, then 250 mg/m2 weekly (60-min) for 6-7 weeks, completing infusion 1 hour prior to radiation; as single-agent or with platinum-based therapy and fluorouracil: weekly (400 mg/m2 initial, 250 mg/m2 subsequent) or biweekly (500 mg/m2 every 2 weeks), completing infusion 1 hour prior to chemotherapy.
Metastasis from malignant neoplasm of colon and/or rectum As single-agent or in combination with irinotecan or FOLFIRI: weekly (400 mg/m2 initial, 250 mg/m2 subsequent) or biweekly (500 mg/m2 every 2 weeks), completing infusion 1 hour prior to irinotecan or FOLFIRI; in combination with encorafenib (BRAF V600E mutation-positive): initial 400 mg/m2 IV (120-min), then 250 mg/m2 weekly (60-min).
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
Contraindications
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Adverse Reactions
Most common (>=25%) Cutaneous adverse reactions (rash, pruritus, nail changes), headache, diarrhea, infection; with encorafenib: fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, dermatitis acneiform, abdominal pain, decreased appetite, arthralgia, rash.
Serious Infusion reactions, cardiopulmonary arrest, pulmonary toxicity, dermatologic toxicity (acneiform rash), hypomagnesemia and electrolyte abnormalities, pulmonary embolism.
Postmarketing Aseptic meningitis, mucosal inflammation, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, life-threatening and fatal bullous mucocutaneous disease.
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
Pharmacology
EGFR antagonist; cetuximab is a recombinant human/mouse chimeric IgG1 monoclonal antibody that binds specifically to the extracellular domain of EGFR, competitively inhibiting EGF and other ligand binding, blocking receptor-associated kinase phosphorylation, inhibiting cell growth, inducing apoptosis, decreasing matrix metalloproteinase and VEGF production, and mediating antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against certain human tumor types.
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.
Enter your patient's insuranceCheck specific coverage details for your patient.
Most Common Insurance
Anthem BCBS
Erbitux
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (12/12) · Step Therapy (0/12) · Qty limit (0/12)
Keytruda
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (12/12) · Step Therapy (0/12) · Qty limit (0/12)
UnitedHealthcare
Erbitux
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (3/8) · Step Therapy (3/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
Keytruda
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (0/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
Humana
Erbitux
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (3/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · Qty limit (0/3)
Keytruda
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (3/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · Qty limit (2/3)
Coverage data sourced from MMIT. Updated monthly.
Savings
Cost estimate not availableAssistance Fund: Head and Neck Cancer: Waitlist
Commercial or private insurance
Medicare, Medicaid, VA, TRICARE
No savings programs available for Keytruda.
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Clinical data sourced from FDA-approved labeling. Coverage data via MMIT. Updated monthly.