Skip to content

Pembrolizumab population PK and exposure

A two-compartment population PK model linking pembrolizumab dosing, body-size effects on disposition, central and peripheral antibody amounts, concentration, and cumulative exposure.

Evaluation of dosing strategy for pembrolizumab for oncology indications ↗

Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer

Exploration notes · What are you exploring?

Notes stay on this browser.

MODEL IN MOTION 18 sec

How do weight-based and fixed pembrolizumab presets build exposure?

Run settings

Run location

Explore this model

Choose a scenario, adjust inputs, and run the simulation.

2 mg/kg every 3 weeks, 77.2 kg

How do dose regimen and body size change pembrolizumab concentration and cumulative exposure?

0–378 day

Scenario details

2 mg/kg every 3 weeks, 77.2 kg

How do dose regimen and body size change pembrolizumab concentration and cumulative exposure?

Readouts

Central pembrolizumab concentration · Unit unavailable
Central pembrolizumab concentration over the selected simulation window.
Peripheral pembrolizumab concentration · Unit unavailable
Peripheral pembrolizumab concentration over the selected simulation window.
Cumulative pembrolizumab exposure · Unit unavailable
Cumulative pembrolizumab exposure over the selected simulation window.

Study purpose

  • How do dose regimen and body size change pembrolizumab concentration and cumulative exposure?

Inputs changed since the displayed result. Run to update the comparison.

Loading starting example…

Edit inputs

Model parameter

Clearance governing removal of modeled material from the relevant compartment.

L/day

Suggested: 0.102–0.305. You can explore beyond this range.

0.2034 → —

Central volume used to convert modeled amount to concentration in the relevant compartment.

L

Suggested: 1.65–4.94. You can explore beyond this range.

3.292 → —

Intercompartmental clearance governing removal of modeled material from the relevant compartment.

L/day

Suggested: 0.2–0.6. You can explore beyond this range.

0.4 → —

Peripheral volume used to convert modeled amount to concentration in the relevant compartment.

L

Suggested: 1.86–5.58. You can explore beyond this range.

3.719 → —

Body weight used for body-size scaling in the model.

kg

Suggested: 38.6–116. You can explore beyond this range.

77.2 → —
Simulation time
day
day
378 → 168

Time between reported samples.

day
0.25 → 1

2 changes · Variation 1

Continue in the background and keep the result.

Biology

Repeated intravenous pembrolizumab dosing enters a central pool, exchanges with a peripheral pool, undergoes systemic clearance, and accumulates central exposure. Body weight scales clearance, intercompartmental flow, and distribution volumes.

How do repeated dosing and body weight shape pembrolizumab exposure?Repeated intravenous pembrolizumab dosing enters a central pool, exchanges with a peripheral pool, undergoes systemic clearance, and accumulates central exposure. Body weight scales clearance, intercompartmental flow, and distribution volumes.BIOLOGY OVERVIEWHow do repeated dosing and body weight shape pembrolizumab exposure?Repeated IV dosing: Pembrolizumab bolus eventsRepeated IV dosingPembrolizumab bolus eventsCentral exposure: Pembrolizumab concentrationCentral exposurePembrolizumab concentrationPeripheral pool: Reversible distributionPeripheral poolReversible distributionSystemic clearance: Weight-scaled central lossSystemic clearanceWeight-scaled central lossBody-weight scaling: Adjusts CL, Q, Vc and VpBody-weightscalingAdjusts CL, Q, Vc and VpCumulative exposure: Central concentration integralCumulativeexposureCentral concentration integralPRIMARY READOUTSCentral pembrolizumab concentrationCentral pembrolizumab conc…Peripheral concentrationPeripheral concentrationCumulative exposureCumulative exposure

Solid arrows show modeled movement or change; two-headed arrows show reversible exchange; dashed arrows show modulation without material transfer.

Model scope: PD-1 binding or receptor occupancy, immune response, tumor effects, and efficacy equivalence between regimens are not represented; this is two-compartment PK.

Modeled relationships (7)
  • Repeated IV dosing → Central exposure: dose events (flow)
  • Central exposure ↔ Peripheral pool: distribution (reversible exchange)
  • Central exposure → Systemic clearance: systemic CL (loss)
  • Body-weight scaling → Central exposure: scales Vc (modulation)
  • Body-weight scaling → Peripheral pool: scales Q / Vp (modulation)
  • Body-weight scaling → Systemic clearance: scales CL (modulation)
  • Central exposure → Cumulative exposure: integrates C (production)

Modeled relationships: Repeated IV dosing to Central exposure: dose events (flow); Central exposure reversibly exchanges with Peripheral pool: distribution (reversible exchange); Central exposure to Systemic clearance: systemic CL (loss); Body-weight scaling to Central exposure: scales Vc (modulation); Body-weight scaling to Peripheral pool: scales Q / Vp (modulation); Body-weight scaling to Systemic clearance: scales CL (modulation); Central exposure to Cumulative exposure: integrates C (production).

Primary readouts: Central pembrolizumab concentration; Peripheral concentration; Cumulative exposure.

Model details

8 parameters · 4 states · 4 equations · 15 derived outputs

Classification & API access
Therapeutic
Pembrolizumab
Modality
Monoclonal antibody
Target
PD-1 / PDCD1
Disease / scope
Oncology indications treated with pembrolizumab
ParameterDefaultUnitDescription
Body weightbody_weight_kg77.2kgBody weight used for body-size scaling in the model.
Clearance body weight exponentclearance_body_weight_exponent0.578—Clearance body weight exponent used for body-size scaling in the model.
Central volumeexploratory_central_volume_L3.29226461LCentral volume used to convert modeled amount to concentration in the relevant compartment.
Clearanceexploratory_clearance_L_day0.20339648L/dayClearance governing removal of modeled material from the relevant compartment.
Intercompartmental clearanceexploratory_intercompartmental_clearance_L_day0.4L/dayIntercompartmental clearance governing removal of modeled material from the relevant compartment.
Peripheral volumeexploratory_peripheral_volume_L3.71908679LPeripheral volume used to convert modeled amount to concentration in the relevant compartment.
Reference body weightexploratory_reference_body_weight_kg77.2kgReference body weight used for body-size scaling in the model.
Volume body weight exponentvolume_body_weight_exponent0.492—Volume body weight exponent used for body-size scaling in the model.

Related models

Cemiplimab pharmacokinetics with time-varying clearanceNivolumab exposure and tumor-size dynamicsNeoadjuvant nivolumab tumor–immune dynamicsBevacizumab and VEGF165 conditional QSS binding

Feedback: helpdesk@unibiointelligence.com.

Ubi Biologics