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Nivolumab

Nivolumab
Monoclonal antibody
Type Whole antibody
Source Human
Target PD-1
Clinical data
Trade names Opdivo
ATC code
Identifiers
Synonyms ONO-4538, BMS-936558, MDX1106
CAS Number
ChemSpider
  • none
Chemical and physical data
Formula C6362H9862N1712O1995S42
Molar mass 143.6 kg/mol

Nivolumab, marketed as Opdivo, is a medication used to treat cancer. It is used as a first line treatment for inoperable or metastatic melanoma in combination with ipilimumab if the cancer does not have a mutation in BRAF, as a second-line treatment following treatment with ipilimumab and if the cancer has a mutation in BRAF, with a BRAF inhibitor, as a second-line treatment for squamous non-small cell lung cancer, and as a second-line treatment for renal cell carcinoma.

It had not been tested in pregnant women but based on the mechanism of action and animal studies, is probably toxic to the baby; it is not known if it is secreted in breast milk. Side effects include severe immune-related inflammation of the lungs, colon, liver, kidneys, and thyroid, and there are effects on skin, central nervous system, the heart, and the digestive system.

It is a human IgG4 anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody. Nivolumab works as a checkpoint inhibitor, blocking a signal that would have prevented activated T cells from attacking the cancer, thus allowing the immune system to clear the cancer. It was discovered at Medarex, developed by Medarex and Ono Pharmaceutical, and brought to market by Bristol-Myers Squibb (which acquired Medarex in 2009) and Ono.

Nivolumab is used as a first line treatment for inoperable or metastatic melanoma in combination with ipilimumab if the cancer does not have a mutation in BRAF, and as a second-line treatment for inoperable or metastatic melanoma following treatment of ipilimumab and, if the cancer has a BRAF mutation, a BRAF inhibitor. It is also used to treat metastatic squamous non-small cell lung cancer with progression with or after platinum-based drugs. It also used as a second-line treatment for renal cell carcinoma after anti-angiogenic treatment has failed.


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