Biologic
RCSB PDB 5TRU
Ipilimumab
Yervoy
- Mechanism of action
- CTLA-4 checkpoint inhibitor (mAb)
- In plain language
- A lab-made antibody that releases a different immune brake (CTLA-4), helping the immune system recognize and attack cancer.
- How it works
- Ipilimumab is a fully human IgG1 monoclonal antibody that binds cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4), a co-inhibitory receptor on activated T cells that dampens T-cell priming. By blocking CTLA-4, ipilimumab removes this early inhibitory checkpoint during T-cell activation, increasing T-cell activation and proliferation. This is mechanistically distinct from PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, which act later at the tumor site, underlying the frequent combination use of ipilimumab with nivolumab.
- Therapeutic applications
- FDA-approved across multiple advanced solid tumors, generally as monotherapy or in combination with nivolumab, including melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, MSI-H/dMMR colorectal cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer, malignant pleural mesothelioma, and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
- Class
- Monoclonal antibody
- Therapeutic area
- Oncology
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