The drug's mechanism of action was entirely new: Instead of attacking cancer cells (like chemo), or indiscriminately revving up the immune system (like IL - 2),
ipilimumab blocked a single receptor on one type of immune cell.
Not exact matches
One approach uses an antibody called
ipilimumab, which may
block a molecule that inhibits the immune system.
By
blocking CTLA - 4,
ipilimumab releases the brake, allowing cell - killing T cells to assault the cancer cells.
The new drug combination included Nivolumab, which
blocks pD - 1 — a molecule that prevents immune cells recognizing and attacking cancer cells — with
ipilimumab which sensitizes the immune system to cancer cells.
Favorable responses with minimal toxicities in monotherapy trials have led to the first melanoma studies of T - VEC in combination with the cytotoxic T - lymphocyte — associated antigen 4 inhibitor
ipilimumab and, separately, with the programmed death 1 —
blocking antibody pembrolizumab.