What has SMC said?

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has accepted pembrolizumab as a treatment for advanced cancers where the cancer cells have certain genetic changes that mean the cancer can be called microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR). It is used in adults with:

  • Endometrial cancer (cancer that starts in the lining of the womb), or
  • Gastric cancer (stomach cancer) or cancer of the small intestine, or bile duct, or
  • Colorectal (bowel) cancer.

This document summarises the SMC decision and what it means for patients.

You can find more detailed information about the SMC assessment of pembrolizumab by looking at the SMC Detailed Advice Document (SMC2589).

What does SMC’s decision mean for patients?

Pembrolizumab is available for prescribing on the NHS in Scotland.

Your healthcare professional can discuss with you if it is the right treatment for you.

 

You can find more information about making decisions about your treatment in this booklet called: Medicines in Scotland: What’s the right treatment for me?

 

More about SMC’s decision

SMC’s decision takes into account a confidential discount offered by the pharmaceutical company.

How does SMC make its decision?

SMC carefully considers every new medicine to make sure it benefits patients and is likely to be a good use of NHS resources.

To do this SMC studies the following:

  • Evidence from the company about how well the medicine works compared with current treatments available in Scotland, in relation to how much they will cost to buy and use to treat patients.
  • Information from patient groups about the potential impact of the medicine on patients and carers.
  • Advice from healthcare professionals about any benefits of the new medicine compared to current treatment, along with how the new medicine is likely to be used.

When SMC assesses a medicine it takes account of the needs of all patients in NHSScotland, not only those who may be treated with the medicine.

You can find out more about how SMC decides here: htps://www.scottishmedicines.org.uk/how-we-decide/

More information and support

The organisations below can give more information and support for people with cancers of the bile duct (cholangiocarcinoma), bowel, womb or stomach and their families. SMC is not responsible for the content of any information provided by external organisations.

AMMF – The Cholangiocarcinoma Charity
https://ammf.org.uk
01279 661479

Bowel Cancer UK
https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk
0207 940 1760

GO Girls
https://www.gogirlssupport.org
01305 255719

GUTS UK
https://gutscharity.org.uk
0207 486 0341

You can find out more about pembrolizumab (Keytruda®) in the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) by searching for the medicine name on the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) website. https://products.mhra.gov.uk  

 

Date advice published: 15 January 2024
SMC ID: SMC2589