Ipilimumab (Intravenous)

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 22, 2022.

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Yervoy

Available Dosage Forms:

• Solution

Therapeutic Class: Antineoplastic Agent

Pharmacologic Class: Monoclonal Antibody

Uses for ipilimumab

Ipilimumab injection is used in combination with nivolumab to treat melanoma (a type of skin cancer) that has spread or cannot be removed by surgery. It is a monoclonal antibody that changes the immune system to help control the growth of cancer cells in the skin.

Ipilimumab injection is also used to help prevent melanoma from coming back after surgical removal.

Ipilimumab injection is used in combination with other medicines (eg, nivolumab) to treat patients with kidney cancer that has spread throughout the body.

Ipilimumab injection is used with nivolumab to treat microsatellite instability high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum) that has spread. It is given to patients who have received other cancer treatments (eg, fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, irinotecan) but did not work well.

Ipilimumab injection is also used with nivolumab to treat liver cancer. It is given to patients who have previously received treatment with sorafenib.

Ipilimumab injection is also used with nivolumab as first-line treatment for metastatic (cancer that has already spread) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients whose tumors express PD-L1 and do not have an abnormal EGFR or ALK gene. Your doctor will perform a test to check for the PD-L1 tumor before you receive ipilimumab.

Ipilimumab injection is also used with nivolumab and two cycles of cancer treatment that contains platinum and another cancer medicine as first-line treatment for metastatic (cancer that has already spread) or recurrent (cancer that has come back) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients whose tumors do not have an abnormal EGFR or ALK gene. Your doctor will perform a test before you receive ipilimumab.

Ipilimumab injection is also used with nivolumab as first-line treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma (cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and chest wall) that cannot be removed by surgery.

Ipilimumab is to be given only by or under the immediate supervision of your doctor.

Before using ipilimumab

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For ipilimumab, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to ipilimumab or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of ipilimumab injection to treat melanoma, and microsatellite instability high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) colorectal cancer in children 12 years of age and older. Safety and efficacy have not been established in children younger than 12 years of age to treat other approved conditions.

Appropriate studie...