Cancer Drugs
Yervoy
Also known as: Ipilimumab, Anti-CTLA-4
Definition
Ipilimumab, a CTLA-4 inhibitor immunotherapy drug that enhances T-cell activation, often used in combination with PD-1 inhibitors for melanoma and other cancers.
Detailed Explanation
Yervoy was the first checkpoint inhibitor approved for cancer. It blocks CTLA-4, an early immune checkpoint, while PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors block later checkpoints. Combining Yervoy with OPDIVO creates dual checkpoint blockade, highly effective but with increased toxicity.