Key takeaways
Keytruda (pembrolizumab) and Tecentriq (atezolizumab) are both immunotherapy medications used to treat various types of cancer, including non-small cell lung cancer and liver cancer. They work by activating your immune system to attack cancer cells. However, they belong to different classes. Keytruda is a programmed death-1 (PD-1) pathway inhibitor, while Tecentriq is a programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor. Keytruda is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion every 3 or 6 weeks, depending on the dose, while Tecentriq is administered every 2, 3, or 4 weeks. Both medications can cause immune-related side effects like rash, diarrhea, and trouble breathing, but the frequency and severity can vary. Both medications require careful monitoring for side effects, and you might need to take a break from treatment or use corticosteroids to manage them. Neither medication is available in generic form, and both are given by IV infusion by a healthcare professional.
