Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers is representing those who have developed cardiomyopathy, myocarditis or acute kidney injury after taking Keytruda (pembrolizumab). We are also filing Keytruda lawsuits on behalf of the families of those who have died due to those conditions after taking Keytruda.
If you or a loved one were harmed by Keytruda, our firm can file a Keytruda lawsuit to pursue compensation for:
- Medical bills and ongoing treatment
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Wrongful death damages
Why Choose Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers to Handle Your Case
- Over 35 years of experience with dangerous drug litigation.
- More than $750,000,000 recovered for injured clients.
- Proven track record against pharmaceutical giants like Merck.
- Communication you can rely on. We will be by your side every step of the way and available 24/7 for support.
- No upfront fees. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay unless we win and you never pay out-of-pocket.
Call us today for a FREE consultation at (800) 718-4658 or contact us if you or a loved one developed cardiomyopathy, myocarditis or acute kidney injury after taking Keytruda.
About Keytruda
Keytruda is a cancer drug which is administered via intravenous infusion.
It is an FDA-approved immunotherapy drug that works with the body’s immune system to fight cancer cells and has been shown to improve overall survival for numerous types of cancer.
Approved uses include:
- Lung and skin cancer
- Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma
- Head and neck squamous cell cancer
- Non-small cell lung cancer
- Melanoma
Risks of Keytruda
Clinical trials have shown that the cancer treatment can lead to serious side effects, and can cause normal organs to be attacked by the immune system, possibly leading to life-threatening complications or patient death.
In September 2025, a wrongful death lawsuit was filed in Arkansas alleging that Keytruda caused a cancer patient to develop cardiomyopathy, myocarditis and acute kidney injury, and to eventually die from these complications.
Lawsuits are being filed against the pharmaceutical company Merck for failing to warn patients and doctors about risks.
Why Keytruda Lawsuits Are Being Filed
It is alleged that Keytruda’s label:
- Fails to contain an accurate, complete disclosure of myocarditis, acute kidney injury and cardiomyopathy cases, as well as deaths connected with those conditions, which occurred during clinical trials
- Significantly understates risks of myocarditis, acute kidney injury and cardiomyopathy, as well as deaths connected with those conditions
- Fails to warn about a higher risk of harm to the elderly as well as those with pre-existing kidney disease and pre-existing auto-immune issues
It is alleged that Merck made a calculated decision to not disclose vital safety information about Keytruda because side effect warnings can shrink customer bases.
It is alleged that Merck failed to warn about cardiomyopathy and other side effects despite having the internal safety procedures in place, financial resources and historical scientific knowledge to do so.
It is alleged that, despite Keytruda presenting a higher risk of harm to the elderly, Merck actually dedicated a substantial part of their marketing spending to marketing the drug to the elderly population, all while failing to warn that population that they were especially susceptible to being harmed by the drug.
Who Qualifies for a Keytruda Lawsuit?
You may qualify for financial compensation in a Keytruda lawsuit if you or a loved one:
- Developed cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, acute kidney injury or renal failure after taking Keytruda
- Died from one of the above conditions after taking Keytruda
Those in higher-risk groups, such as the elderly, autoimmune disease patients, and kidney disease patients, may have stronger claims.
Our wrongful death lawyers can file wrongful death lawsuits on behalf of families who lost loved ones due to Keytruda complications.
Keytruda Side Effects Linked to Lawsuits
Litigation alleges that Keytruda can cause:
- Acute cardiomyopathy: Cardiomyopathy is a heart muscle disease. Acute cardiomyopathy means that the disease comes on suddenly and severely. The heart muscle weakens, affecting its ability to effectively pump blood. This can lead to heart failure, blood clots, heart valve problems, cardiac arrest or sudden death.
- Myocarditis: Myocarditis is when the heart muscle becomes inflamed. This can reduce the ability of the heart to pump blood. Complications of myocarditis include heart failure, heart attack, stroke, arrhythmias or sudden cardiac death.
- Acute kidney injury: Acute kidney injury occurs when the kidneys are suddenly unable to filter waste from the blood. Harmful waste levels can build up when this happens, leading to the chemical makeup of the blood getting out of balance. Complications of acute kidney injury include fluid buildup, chest pain, muscle weakness, permanent kidney damage or death.
Scientific Evidence Links Keytruda to Myocarditis and Acute Kidney Failure (AKI)
It is alleged that Merck has failed to warn about Keytruda’s side effects and what populations are more susceptible to harm from the drug, despite scientific evidence linking the drug to the side effects and vulnerability of specific populations:
- Numerous studies have linked Keytruda with myocarditis, going all the way back to a 2016 study.
- A 2025 FDA adverse event study found that 1,326 cases of myocarditis were linked with immune checkpoint inhibitors such as Keytruda, with about 37% of the cases ending in death.
- A 2025 study found that 1,112 cases of myocarditis and pericarditis were linked with immune checkpoint inhibitors such as Keytruda, with 31.8 percent of the cases ending in death, and 46 percent of the Keytruda-linked cases ending in death.
- Numerous studies have linked Keytruda with a higher risk of myocarditis in the elderly, going all the way back to a 2019 study.
- A 2025 study found that Keytruda was linked with a higher risk of death due to acute kidney injury in the elderly.
- The risk of myocarditis in patients with auto-immune disease taking Keytruda has been known going back as far as a 2018 letter to Haematologica.
- Numerous studies have linked Keytruda with acute injury, going all the way back to a 2017 study.
What Is My Keytruda Lawsuit Worth?
There is no single number regarding the average value of a Keytruda lawsuit.
The value of your claim will depend on the specific damages you or your loved one incurred.
Damages which our law firm can help you recover compensation for in a Keytruda case include:
- Medical bills: We can help you recover compensation for all past and future medical expenses related to conditions caused by Keytruda. This includes compensation for the costs of things like hospital stays, surgeries, medications, medical treatments, doctor visits, physical therapy, rehabilitation and more.
- Lost wages: Our law firm can help you recover money to compensate you for any wages that you were unable to earn due to a condition caused by Keytruda.
- Loss of earning capacity: If a condition caused by Keytruda has caused you to become permanently disabled, we can help you recover compensation for the loss or reduction of earning capacity which resulted.
- Pain and suffering: We can help you recover compensation for any physical pain, mental suffering and emotional distress caused by a condition that Keytruda caused
- Wrongful death: If you lost a loved one due to a condition caused by Keytruda, we can help you recover compensation for things like funeral and burial costs, your loved one’s pain, suffering and medical bills, and the loss of your loved one’s love, companionship, income, household services and spousal benefits.
- Punitive damages: We may be able to recover punitive damages on your behalf. These damages would be meant to punish Merck for failing to disclose the risks associated with Keytruda, as well as deter other pharmaceutical companies from behaving similarly in the future.
Statute of Limitations for Keytruda Injury Lawsuits
There’s a time limit to file a lawsuit if you or a loved one has been injured or killed by a dangerous drug. This time limit is known as a statute of limitations and varies between states.
For example, California’s statute of limitations for these types of cases is two years from the date you become aware that injuries were caused by a dangerous drug.
However, this time limit has exceptions, and some exceptions actually shorten the time limit.
For this reason, and because acting quickly allows evidence to be preserved, it is best to call us today for a free consultation if you or a loved one has been injured or killed by Keytruda.
FAQs
Has the FDA Recalled Keytruda?
No. Keytruda has not been recalled by the FDA. However, lawsuits are now in motion, alleging that Merck failed to warn about serious health complications related to the drug, such as myocarditis, cardiomyopathy and acute kidney injury.
Do I Need a Lawyer to File a Keytruda Lawsuit?
You do not technically need a lawyer to file a Keytruda Lawsuit.
However, Merck is a Fortune 500 company which reported $64.17 billion in revenue in 2024. Merck can afford to hire very expensive lawyers to defend itself in court.
To maximize your chances of success in a Keytruda lawsuit, you need experienced dangerous drug attorneys by your side.
Our law firm has been representing victims of dangerous drugs for over 35 years and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for clients. We have a proven track record of taking on pharmaceutical giants and winning.
Who Is Liable in the Keytruda Injury Lawsuits?
Merck will be the defendant in lawsuits alleging that Keytruda caused patients to become injured.
Lawsuits would seek to hold Merck liable, alleging that they failed to warn of the health risks of Keytruda such as cardiomyopathy, myocarditis and acute kidney injury.
Is Keytruda a High-Risk Medication?
Keytruda has been linked with numerous serious side effects, including:
- Cardiomyopathy
- Myocarditis
- Acute kidney injury
- Lung problems
- Intestinal problems
- Liver problems
- Skin problems
- Hormone gland problems
- Infusion reactions
What Are the Rare Side Effects of Keytruda?
Rare, serious side effects of Keytruda include:
- Organ damage
- Severe skin reactions
- Endocrine problems
- Eye problems
- Transplant complications
- Heart issues
Keytruda Lawsuit Updates
September 25, 2025 Update
A lawsuit filed in Arkansas on September 24 alleges that an Arkansas woman took Keytruda then died after the drug caused her to develop fatal acute cardiomyopathy, acute kidney injury and myocarditis.
The lawsuit alleges that her death was due to Merck’s “profit-driven decision” to leave important safety warnings off of the drug’s U.S. product label.
According to the lawsuit, the woman was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2020. In 2022, she started taking Keytruda, then ended up in the emergency room with abnormal echocardiogram, tachycardia and low blood pressure.
The woman allegedly died four days after being admitted to the emergency room, having been diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, myocarditis and acute kidney injury. The woman’s death certificate identifies causes of death including Keytruda-caused cardiomyopathy and renal failure.
The lawsuit alleges that Merck knew or should have known that Keytruda is linked with a higher risk of developing cardiomyopathy, acute kidney injury and myocarditis, yet failed to warn about this risk. The lawsuit alleges Merck should have known about these risks due to events in clinical trials as well as scientific studies.
The lawsuit also alleges that Merck knew or should have known that Keytruda is linked with a higher risk of harm in the elderly, autoimmune patients and kidney patients, yet failed to warn about this risk.
The lawsuit seeks financial compensation based on the causes of action of strict products liability/failure to warn and negligence.
Contact Our Keytruda Lawsuit Attorneys Today
We are Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers, experts in helping clients take on pharmaceutical companies like Merck after being affected by dangerous drugs like Keytruda.
We have over 35 years of experience handling dangerous drug and personal injury cases, and have obtained over $750,000,000 in compensation for our clients.
Why Clients Choose Us:
- We take on Fortune 500 companies like Merck.
- We provide aggressive, results-driven legal representation.
- We provide our clients with dedicated care and reliable communication 24/7.
- We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning no fees unless we win.
Call us today for a FREE consultation at (800) 718-4658 or fill out our quick contact form if you or a loved one developed myocarditis, cardiomyopathy or acute kidney injury after being exposed to Keytruda.
