Opdivo vs. Yervoy

Opdivo (nivolumab) and Yervoy (ipilimumab) are monoclonal antibodies used to treat different types of cancer.

Opdivo is used to treat patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma and disease progression following ipilimumab and, if BRAF V600 mutation positive, a BRAF inhibitor; and to treat metastatic squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy.

Yervoy is used to treat late-stage, metastatic melanoma, a deadly skin cancer. Yervoy is thought to work by allowing the body's immune system to recognize, target, and attack cells in these tumors. Patients with metastatic melanoma are shown to live longer when treated with Yervoy.

Side effects of Opdivo and Yervoy that are similar include diarrhea, mild skin rash or itching, tiredness/fatigue, nausea, and vomiting.

Side effects of Opdivo that are different from Yervoy include cough, upper respiratory tract infection, swelling of extremities, shortness of breath, muscle pain, decreased appetite, constipation, weakness, swelling, fever, abdominal pain, chest pain, joint pain, weight loss, irregular heartbeat, eye inflammation, infusion-related reactions, increased amylase, increased lipase, dizziness, numbness and tingling, skin peeling, skin redness, and psoriasis.

Both Opdivo and Yervoy may interact with other drugs.

Common side effects of Opdivo include:

• fatigue
• rash
• itching
• cough
• upper respiratory tract infection
• swelling of the extremities
• shortness of breath
• muscle pain
• decreased appetite
• nausea
• vomiting
• constipation
• diarrhea
• weakness
• swelling
• fever
• abdominal pain
• chest pain
• joint pain
• weight loss
• irregular heartbeat
• eye inflammation
• infusion-related reactions
• increased amylase
• increased lipase
• dizziness
• numbness and tingling
• skin peeling
• skin redness and
• psoriasis.

Common side effects of Yervoy include:

• mild diarrhea,
• mild skin rash or itching,
• tiredness,
• nausea, or
• vomiting.

Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects of Yervoy including:

• severe stomach pain, bloating, constipation, or vomiting; loss of bowel control;
• trouble with daily activities;
• feeling very thirsty or hot, being unable to urinate, heavy sweating, or hot and dry skin;
• urinating less than usual or not at all;
• severe upper stomach pain spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate;
• fever, cough, trouble breathing; or
• chest pain, feeling short of breath (even with mild exertion), swelling, rapid weight gain.

Opdivo (nivolumab) is a human monoclonal antibody used to treat patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma and disease progression following ipilimumab and, if BRAF V600 mutation positive, a BRAF inhibitor; and to treat metastatic squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy.

Yervoy (ipilimumab) is a monoclonal antibody used to treat late-stage, metastatic melanoma, a deadly skin cancer. Yervoy is thought to work by allowing the body's immune system to recognize, target, and attack cells in these tumors. Patients with metastatic melanoma are shown to live longer when treated with Yervoy.

Opdivo may interact with other drugs. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

Yervoy may interact with other drugs. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

The recommended dose of Opdivo depends on the condition being treated and whether Opdivo is being administered as a single agent or in combination with another drug.

The recommended dose of Yervoy is 10 mg/kg administered intravenously over 90 minutes every 3 weeks for 4 doses followed by 10 mg/kg every 12 weeks for up to 3 years.