Regulatory approval

Published by the Health Canada.

Health Canada approved pembrolizumab for the first-line treatment of metastatic or unresectable recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) as monotherapy, in adult patients whose tumours have PD-L1 expression (Combined Positive Score [CPS] >= 1) as determined by a validated test.

This is written in the approval document as:

KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) is indicated for the first-line treatment of metastatic or unresectable recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) as monotherapy, in adult patients whose tumours have PD-L1 expression (Combined Positive Score [CPS] >= 1) as determined by a validated test.

Citation

Merck Canada Inc. Keytruda (pembrolizumab) [product monograph]. Health Canada website. https://pdf.hres.ca/dpd_pm/00083378.PDF. Published January 2026. Accessed April 2026.

Therapeutic response

Precision oncology relationships for therapeutic response derived from this regulatory approval.

Organization(s)	Biomarker(s)	Cancer type	Therapy(ies)
HC (1)	PD-L1 (CPS) >= 1	Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma	Pembrolizumab