Medicines labeled for the same conditions
Alternatives to pembrolizumab
22 other medicines are given the same way (intravenous) and in the same FDA class as pembrolizumab or labeled mainly for the same use (lung cancer); 2 are in its class, programmed death receptor-1 blocking antibodies: nivolumab and atezolizumab; the others include 2 microtubule inhibitors, 2 topoisomerase inhibitors and 2 vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors (FDA labels read October 8, 2026).
Which medicines are labeled for the same conditions as pembrolizumab?
Lung cancer lists all 55 medicines labeled for it, by any route. Each row shows the conditions both labels name. They are listed as public records, not as substitutes: whether one can replace another depends on the person and is a prescriber's decision.
| Medicine and FDA class | Shared indication | Generic labelers (intravenous) | Pharmacy cost | Boxed warning | Shortage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pembrolizumabprogrammed death receptor-1 blocking antibody | this medicine | none listed | n/a | No | No current entry |
| Nivolumabprogrammed death receptor-1 blocking antibody · same class | Lung cancer, Colorectal cancer, Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma | none listed | n/a | No | No current entry |
| Atezolizumabprogrammed death receptor-1 blocking antibody · same class | Lung cancer | none listed | n/a | No | No current entry |
| Pemetrexedfolate analog metabolic inhibitor | Lung cancer | 15 labelers | n/a | No | A presentation being discontinued |
| Docetaxelmicrotubule inhibitor | Breast cancer, Lung cancer | 14 labelers | n/a | Yes | A presentation being discontinued |
| Paclitaxelmicrotubule inhibitor | Breast cancer, Lung cancer | 20 labelers | n/a | Yes | No current entry |
| Gemcitabinenucleoside metabolic inhibitor | Breast cancer, Lung cancer | 10 labelers | n/a | No | No current entry |
| Etoposidetopoisomerase inhibitor | Lung cancer | 5 labelers | n/a | Yes | No current entry |
| Bevacizumabvascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor | Lung cancer, Colorectal cancer | none listed | n/a | No | No current entry |
| Topotecantopoisomerase inhibitor | Lung cancer | 4 labelers | n/a | Yes | No current entry |
| Bevacizumab-malyvascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor | Lung cancer, Colorectal cancer | none listed | n/a | No | No current entry |
| Ipilimumabctla-4-directed blocking antibody | Lung cancer, Colorectal cancer | none listed | n/a | No | No current entry |
| Ramucirumabvascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 antagonist | Lung cancer, Colorectal cancer | none listed | n/a | No | No current entry |
| Durvalumabprogrammed death ligand-1 blocker | Lung cancer | none listed | n/a | No | No current entry |
| Telisotuzumab vedotin | Lung cancer | none listed | n/a | No | No current entry |
| Tremelimumabctla-4-directed blocking antibody | Lung cancer | none listed | n/a | No | No current entry |
| Vinorelbinevinca alkaloid | Lung cancer | 2 labelers | n/a | Yes | No current entry |
| Zenocutuzumab | Lung cancer | none listed | n/a | Yes | No current entry |
| Datopotamab deruxtecan | Breast cancer, Lung cancer | none listed | n/a | No | No current entry |
| Trastuzumab deruxtecan | Breast cancer, Lung cancer | none listed | n/a | Yes | No current entry |
| Amivantamab | Lung cancer | none listed | n/a | No | No current entry |
| Cemiplimab | Lung cancer | none listed | n/a | No | No current entry |
| Lurbinectedinalkylating drug | Lung cancer | none listed | n/a | No | No current entry |
Source: FDA drug labels (indications) via openFDA; FDA NDC Directory; CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026; FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Pembrolizumab: the full record
- label, generics, price, shortages, recalls