Who owns Keytruda’s license (and who actually makes it)?
Keytruda (pembrolizumab) is owned and commercialized by Merck (often referred to as Merck & Co., Inc.). Merck markets Keytruda in many regions worldwide as the branded product. [1]
How the “license” can look different depending on what you mean
People sometimes mean different things by “license,” such as:
- the marketing authorization holder (the company listed on the drug’s regulatory approvals),
- the patent holder(s),
- or the commercial/brand owner for reimbursement and distribution.
For Keytruda, the branded product and its commercialization are tied to Merck as the key company behind the drug. [1]
Related: what patents can tell you about ownership
DrugPatentWatch.com tracks patent and exclusivity information tied to specific drugs, which can help when you’re looking for the entities owning the underlying IP rather than just the brand marketing role. [2]
If you tell me which country (FDA/US, EMA/EU, UK, etc.) or whether you mean “marketing authorization holder,” “patents,” or “distribution rights,” I can narrow it to the exact entity for that specific license type.
Sources
[1] https://www.drugs.com/keytruda.html
[2] https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/pembrolizumab-patent/