Yervoy is the trade name decided on for ipilimumab by the FDA Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee and Bristol-Myers Squibb in December 2010. In March 2011, the drug was approved for the treatment of late-stage metastatic melanoma, an otherwise fatal skin cancer and the leading cause of cancer deaths. The drug was initially proposed for use in patients who failed to respond to other treatments but, as reported by Daniel DeNoon at WebMD, is expected to extend the life of both non-responders and patients with inoperable stage III and IV melanoma. Yervoy is the first drug approved for metastatic melanoma in more than a decade, and the first to show increased survival among treated patients. Benefits of Yervoy In clinical studies, an experimental vaccine was found to extend the life of previously treated patients to a little over 6 months. In promising contrast, patients treated with ipilimumab survived 10 months. This is an average – a fifth of the patients survived 2 years according to US News, and some patients treated years ago are still reportedly alive, which is quite impressive for a cancer that has a chemotherapy response rate of 5 to 20 percent and 10-year survival rate of less than 10 percent according to the CancerNetwork. The drug essentially reduced the risk of death by 34 percent. As described by the Wall Street Journal, a yet unpublished study by Squibb found that it also extended the life of previously untreated patients compared to chemotherapy, which the FDA used to determine the broader indications for use than anticipated. Only two drugs are currently used to treat metastatic melanoma, but neither increases survival. Risks of Yervoy Among 676 patients with inoperable melanoma evaluated in a trial published in 2010, 14 receiving Yervoy or a peptide vaccine died. Half of these deaths were related to immune reactions according to the CancerNetwork. Approximately 13 percent of patients receiving Yervoy experienced severe to fatal autoimmune reactions to the drug, which acts as an immune modulator, stimulating action against the cancer cells. Other side effects include fatigue, diarrhea and intestinal inflammation, skin rash, and endocrine deficiencies. Another downside to the drug is the cost – the Wall Street Journal is expecting that Squibb will charge $120,000 for a standard regimen, which is estimated from roughly $30k per infusion (4 infusions over 3 months, but at varying doses that will determine actual cost). Due to the serious side effects, the drug is being released with risk evaluation and mitigation strategies for physicians and melanoma patients. Category:Home › Other • Pomegranates: A newly discovered superfood • Where did the joke why did the chicken cross the road come from and why is it funny? • Can mothers diagnosed with bipolar disorder make good parents? • Spiritual evolution of human consciousness • Tips for getting a college basketball scholarship • Living with Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) • Caring for the caregiver • Technologys impact on society