Exploring Variances in Yervoy: Its Alternatives, Potential Adverse Effects, Pricing, Dosage, and Beyond
Yervoy, also known by its active drug name ipilimumab, is a type of immunotherapy used to treat several types of cancer. This drug helps your immune system attack cancer cells, but it can also potentially harm healthy cells in your body.
Availability and Cost
Yervoy is a brand-name prescription medication, and at the moment, it is not available in generic or biosimilar form. The cost of Yervoy can vary, and to find current prices in your area, you can check out WellRx.com. If you need financial support to pay for Yervoy, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, Bristol Myers Squibb, the manufacturer of Yervoy, provides ways to help lower the cost. You can call 800-861-0048 or visit their website for more information and to find out if you're eligible for support.
Uses and Dosage
Yervoy is approved to treat several types of cancer in adults, including melanoma, kidney cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, and pleural mesothelioma. The recommended dosage depends on the type of cancer being treated, your body weight, and other factors. Generally, Yervoy infusions are given once every few weeks and may last for about 30 or 90 minutes.
In the case of pleural mesothelioma, the recommended dosage is 1 mg/kg of body weight, given once every 6 weeks for up to 2 years. For non-small cell lung cancer, the dosage is 1 mg/kg of body weight, given once every 6 weeks for up to 2 years as well. For other types of cancer, you'll have up to only four doses of Yervoy.
For children with cancer, the dosages of Yervoy are the same as those used for adults.
Effectiveness in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treatment
The combination of Yervoy and nivolumab (Opdivo) has shown effectiveness in treating advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), particularly in patients with low or negative PD-L1 expression. This combination has demonstrated long-term benefits in progression-free and overall survival in first-line treatment of advanced NSCLC.
Side Effects
Yervoy can cause mild or serious side effects that may vary depending on which condition the drug is being used to treat. Some examples of mild side effects include fatigue, diarrhea, itching, rash, nausea and vomiting, decreased appetite, weight loss, headache, pain in muscles, bones, or joints, fever, and others.
Serious side effects from Yervoy aren't common, but they can occur. Examples of serious side effects include hepatitis (liver inflammation), serious skin reactions, hormone problems, type 1 diabetes, pneumonitis (lung inflammation), nephritis (kidney inflammation), colitis (inflammation of the large intestine), infusion-related reactions, allergic reactions, and others. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your doctor right away.
Alternatives to Yervoy
Other drugs are available that can treat the same types of cancer as Yervoy. Some may be a better fit for you than others. If you're interested in finding an alternative to Yervoy, talk with your doctor.
FDA Approval
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first approved Yervoy for use in 2011, and in 2018, the FDA granted Yervoy to treat a type of liver cancer called hepatocellular carcinoma. In 2020, the FDA granted Yervoy accelerated approval to treat certain forms of colorectal cancer.
Off-Label Use and Ongoing Studies
Yervoy is not approved to treat breast cancer, but it may be prescribed off-label for this use. Several ongoing studies are investigating the effectiveness of Yervoy for treating different forms of breast cancer.
Before approving coverage for Yervoy, your insurance company may require you to get prior authorization.
Yervoy is also used to treat certain forms of the above cancers in children ages 12 years and older.
*In the realm of health-and-wellness and medical-conditions, Yervoy is sometimes used off-label to treat breast cancer, despite not receiving FDA approval for this purpose.
*For individuals battling skin-care issues associated with the use of Yervoy, it's crucial to monitor for potential side effects such as severe skin reactions.
*While Yervoy is an effective solution for treating anthrax in its immunotherapy application, it is more commonly used to combat various types of cancer, including non-small cell lung cancer, where its combination with nivolumab (Opdivo) has shown significant progress in prolonging progression-free and overall survival.
