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The immune checkpoint inhibitors: where are we now?

Nature Reviews Drug Discovery volume 13, pages 883–884 (2014)Cite this article

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Currently available drugs

Three immune checkpoint inhibitors are marketed: ipilimumab (Yervoy; Bristol-Myers Squibb), nivolumab (Opdivo; Bristol-Myers Squibb/Ono Pharmaceuticals), and pembrolizumab (Keytruda; Merck & Co.) — all for the treatment of malignant melanoma. The first to reach the market was the monoclonal CTLA4-specific antibody ipilimumab in 2011. This agent had a dramatic impact on medical practice for unresectable or metastatic malignant melanoma1. Data from a pooled analysis comprising 1,861 patients in clinical trials showed 3-year and 7-year overall survival of 22% and 17%, respectively. However, in the clinical study that led to its approval, response rates were low (11%) and the incidence of grade 3 and grade 4 adverse events high (46%, of which 15% were immune-related). Ipilimumab carries a black-boxed warning for immune-mediated adverse events and a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) has been developed.

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Figure 1: Major-market sales of select immune checkpoint inhibitors (estimated).

References

  1. Decision Resources Group: Malignant Melanoma. Pharmacor Service. Onkos. 2013–2014.

  2. Decision Resources Group: NSCLC. Pharmacor Service. Onkos. 2013–2014.

  3. Decision Resources Group: Pharmaview Service. 2014.

  4. Decision Resources Group: Immunotherapies. Pharmacor Service. Onkos. 2014.

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  1. Rachel Webster is at Decision Resources, 6th Floor, Aldermary House, 1015 Queen Street, London EC4N 1TX, United Kingdom.,

    Rachel M. Webster

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  1. Rachel M. Webster
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Correspondence to Rachel M. Webster.

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The author declares no competing financial interests.

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Webster, R. The immune checkpoint inhibitors: where are we now?. Nat Rev Drug Discov 13, 883–884 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd4476

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