liposomal irinotecan + pembrolizumab

Liposomal irinotecan + pembrolizumab is an investigational combination therapy composed of two agents: liposomal irinotecan (a liposomal formulation of the topoisomerase I inhibitor irinotecan, also known as nal-IRI) and pembrolizumab (a monoclonal antibody targeting programmed cell death protein 1, or PD-1). Liposomal irinotecan allows for improved delivery and penetration across barriers such as the blood–brain barrier and has demonstrated increased efficacy in tumor inhibition compared to conventional irinotecan. Pembrolizumab is a humanized anti-PD-1 antibody that enhances antitumor immunity by blocking PD-1 interaction with its ligands PD-L1 and PD-L2. The combination is primarily under investigation for solid tumors, with a particular focus on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) with brain metastases and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). This combination aims to synergize the cytotoxic activity of chemotherapy (via DNA damage) with the T-cell–mediated immune response facilitated by immune checkpoint blockade[3][4][5][6][9].

Brand names

OnivydeKeytruda

Other names

nal-IRI + pembrolizumab