Merck's Keytruda: The Blockbuster Drug Saving Lives and Driving Inequity
An in-depth investigation reveals how Merck's pricing and patents on the lifesaving cancer drug Keytruda have made it one of the world's top-selling medicines, while leaving many patients unable to afford it.
Keytruda, the cancer immunotherapy drug developed by the pharmaceutical giant Merck, has become a true lifesaving treatment for patients battling aggressive forms of cancer. However, a cross-border investigation by DW and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) has uncovered how Merck's pricing strategies and aggressive patent protection have turned Keytruda into one of the world's best-selling drugs, while leaving many patients struggling to access it.
The story of Keytruda's success is a complex one, intertwined with the high costs of drug development, the realities of the global pharmaceutical industry, and the profound inequities in access to critical medical care. Merck's pricing of Keytruda has made it one of the most expensive cancer drugs on the market, with a course of treatment costing upwards of $150,000 per year in the United States.
Source: Deutsche Welle
