The Daily Brief Keytruda: The clone wars
9 snips
Feb 27, 2026 A look at the race to replicate a blockbuster cancer immunotherapy and why copying biologics is far harder than making generics. Discussion of how patent strategies and manufacturing hurdles shape competition. A breakdown of the EU carbon border mechanism and its likely effects on Indian steel exporters and prices. Quick market and regulatory tidbits sprinkled throughout.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Why Keytruda Changed Cancer Treatment
- Keytruda is a platform immunotherapy that blocks PD-1, letting the immune system hunt many cancer types rather than attacking tumors directly.
- Merck's pembrolizumab treats 18 tumor types, is tissue-agnostic since 2017, and turned metastatic melanoma survival from 5% to over 33% at seven years.
The Immense Market Value Behind Keytruda
- Keytruda generated over $31 billion in sales in 2025 and is the world's best-selling drug, creating a massive commercial opportunity when patents expire in 2028.
- A single 100mg vial can cost up to Rs 2.36 lakh, making annual treatment ~Rs 40–50 lakh and out of reach for most patients.
Why Biosimilars Are Harder Than Generics
- Biologics like Keytruda are vastly more complex than small-molecule drugs because they're huge proteins produced in living cells with precise folding and sugar decorations.
- Manufacturers use CHO cells in bioreactors and must control temperature, nutrients and pH to coax correct folding across thousands of liters.