“Consistent with the ICH S6 guidance, genetic toxicology studies were not conducted or required for pembrolizumab.”
✓ VerifiedFDA pharmacology/toxicology review, p. 5Source ↗
Carcinogenicity
Not conducted; not required for a product to treat advanced cancer; not planned as a post-marketing requirement
“Carcinogenicity studies were not required to support the licensing application for a product to treat advanced human cancer and are neither planned nor expected as post-marketing requirements at this time.”
✓ VerifiedFDA pharmacology/toxicology review, p. 5Source ↗
Instead of carcinogenicity
Not stated in public reviews
Not reported in the public reviews. Reviewers summarise selectively, so this usually means it wasn't discussed publicly, not that it wasn't studied.
Instead of genotoxicity
Not stated in public reviews
Not reported in the public reviews. Reviewers summarise selectively, so this usually means it wasn't discussed publicly, not that it wasn't studied.
DRG histopathology
Not stated in public reviews
Not reported in the public reviews. Reviewers summarise selectively, so this usually means it wasn't discussed publicly, not that it wasn't studied.
Reproductive & developmental
Not conducted; dedicated embryofetal studies not warranted for the intended patient population
“Dedicated nonclinical studies investigating the effects of pembrolizumab on embryofetal development are not warranted at this time to support its use in the intended patient population.”
✓ VerifiedFDA pharmacology/toxicology review, p. 5Source ↗
Safety pharmacology
Evaluated within the 1- and 6-month repeat-dose monkey studies
“safety pharmacology was evaluated as part of the 1-month and 6-months repeat-dose toxicity study in cynomolgus monkeys”
“Consistent with the ICH S6 guidance, genetic toxicology studies were not conducted or required for pembrolizumab.”
✓ VerifiedFDA pharmacology/toxicology review, p. 5Source ↗
Genotox: in vitro mammalian
Not conducted (ICH S6)
“Consistent with the ICH S6 guidance, genetic toxicology studies were not conducted or required for pembrolizumab.”
✓ VerifiedFDA pharmacology/toxicology review, p. 5Source ↗
Genotox: in vivo
Not conducted (ICH S6)
“Consistent with the ICH S6 guidance, genetic toxicology studies were not conducted or required for pembrolizumab.”
✓ VerifiedFDA pharmacology/toxicology review, p. 5Source ↗
Carcinogenicity model
Not conducted (product for advanced cancer)
“Carcinogenicity studies were not required to support the licensing application for a product to treat advanced human cancer and are neither planned nor expected as post-marketing requirements at this time.”
✓ VerifiedFDA pharmacology/toxicology review, p. 5Source ↗
Carcinogenicity timing
Not required; not planned as a postmarketing requirement
“Carcinogenicity studies were not required to support the licensing application for a product to treat advanced human cancer and are neither planned nor expected as post-marketing requirements at this time.”
✓ VerifiedFDA pharmacology/toxicology review, p. 5Source ↗
hERG / QT
No hERG assay; no effects on ECG, blood pressure or CV/respiratory/CNS histopathology in monkey repeat-dose studies
“The following parameters were evaluated: electrocardiograms, general veterinary and physical examinations with body temperature and blood pressure, clinical observations (within 1 to 3 hours post-dose), and histopathology of tissues from the cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, and nervous systems. No pembrolizumab-related effects were observed in any parameter evaluated.”