Description
Nivolumab is a type of targeted therapy drug called an immune checkpoint inhibitor (a type of immunotherapy). It is a monoclonal antibody that binds to the protein PD-1 on the surface of immune cells called T cells. It works by keeping cancer cells from suppressing the immune system. This allows the immune system to attack and kill the cancer cells.
Nivolumab is approved to be used alone or with other drugs to treat:
- Classic Hodgkin lymphoma
- Colorectal cancer
- Esophageal cancer or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.
- Gastric (stomach) cancer, gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, or esophageal cancer
- Malignant pleural mesothelioma
- Melanoma
- Non-small cell lung cancer.
- Renal cell carcinoma
- Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
- Urothelial carcinoma
