KEYTRUDA (Pembrolizumab): Risk of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis

MSD Pharma (Singapore) Pte Ltd would like to inform healthcare professionals that cases of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) have been reported in patients treated with KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) in clinical trials and post-market setting. Locally, HSA has received 3 reports of SJS and 1 report of TEN, of which one had a fatal outcome. Healthcare professionals are advised to counsel patients about the risks of SJS and TEN associated with KEYTRUDA and the early symptoms of SJS and TEN. KEYTRUDA treatment should be suspended if a patient is suspected to have SJS or TEN or permanently discontinue if SJS or TEN is confirmed. The Singapore package insert and Patient Medication Guide have been updated to include SJS and TEN. Please refer to the letter for details. 

 
 
Healthcare professional, Therapeutic Products
Published:

Dear Healthcare Professional Letters

12 Dec 2019

Only abstracts of the Dear Healthcare Professional Letters (DHCPL) are provided on this website. Details of the letters can be found on the MOH Alert System, which is accessible via the Health Professionals Portal (HPP). HPP is a one-stop portal for all healthcare professionals in Singapore. Dentists, medical doctors and pharmacists may access HPP at https://www.moh.gov.sg/hpp/, and follow the procedures below to access the MOH Alert system.

Step 1: On the top navigation ribbon of webpage, select 'For Healthcare Professionals' followed by 'Health Professionals Portal' and click on the choice of profession. User will be redirected to the specific HPP webpage for the selected profession.

Step 2: Click on the Restricted Content icon on the left panel of webpage and login via SingPass.

Step 3: Click on the MOH Alert icon under ‘Applications’ section

Step 4: Click on the Drug Alert tab to view the DHCPLs.