nivolumab + bacillus calmette-guérin

This is a **combination therapy** of nivolumab, a monoclonal antibody immune checkpoint inhibitor targeting the programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) pathway, and **bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)**, a live attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis used as immunotherapy primarily for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Nivolumab enhances anti-tumor immune responses by blocking inhibitory signaling through PD-1, thus activating T lymphocytes. BCG, administered intravesically, stimulates innate and adaptive immune responses in the bladder via activation of toll-like receptors, cytokine production, and recruitment of several immune cell types. The combination is investigated primarily for high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. There is clinical concern regarding increased immune-related adverse events with this combination, as the dual activation of immune responses may potentiate autoimmunity or other toxicities[1][2][5].

Brand names

Opdivo

Other names

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin