Malignant melanoma is diagnosed in an estimated 160,000 new patients each year and, despite being less common than other skin neoplasms, it is responsible for 75% of skin cancer-related deaths. Current available treatment options for melanoma are limited to surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy, although there are a number of targetted agents in the clinical development at the moment. Ipilimumab effect in melanoma is indirect and probably due to enabling a T-cell mediated immune response
Ipilimumab's molecular target is CTLA-4 (Uniprot: P16410; canSAR ; PFAM: P16410), a negative regulator of T-cell activation. Ipilimumab augments T-cell activation and proliferation by binding to CTLA-4 and preventing its interaction with its ligands (CD80 and CD86). CTLA-4 is a membrane-bound, 223 amino acid long, T-cell protein. It contains an immunoglobulin V-type domain (PFAM:PF07686). The structure of CTLA-4 is determined (see e.g. PDBe:3osk)Ipilimumab has been issued with a Black Box warning as it can result in severe and fatal immune-mediated adverse reactions due to T-cell activation and proliferation, particularly enterocolitis, hepatitis, dermatitis (including toxic epidermal necrolysis), neuropathy, and endocrinopathy.
Ipilimumab is administered intravenously, and the recommended dose is 3 mg/kg administered over 90 minutes every 3 weeks for a total of four doses. The terminal half-life (t1/2) is 14.7 days (30.1%); systemic clearance (CL) is 15.3 mL/h (38.5%); and volume of distribution at steady-state (Vss) is 7.21 L (10.5%).
The full prescribing information can be found here. Yervoy™ is a product of Bristol-Myers Squibb
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