urelumab + nivolumab

Urelumab + nivolumab is an investigational combination therapy consisting of two monoclonal antibodies used in cancer immunotherapy. Urelumab is a fully human IgG4 monoclonal antibody that acts as an agonist of CD137 (also known as 4-1BB), a co-stimulatory receptor on activated T cells and natural killer (NK) cells. By activating CD137 signaling, urelumab enhances the proliferation and cytotoxic activity of immune effector cells against tumor cells. Nivolumab is a fully human IgG4 monoclonal antibody that blocks the programmed death-1 (PD-1) receptor on T cells, thereby preventing inhibitory signaling and promoting T cell-mediated antitumor responses. The combination aims to synergistically enhance antitumor immunity by simultaneously stimulating immune activation through CD137 and relieving immune suppression via PD-1 blockade. This regimen has been studied in early-phase clinical trials for various advanced solid tumors and hematologic malignancies including melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, B-cell lymphoma, bladder cancer, and pancreatic adenocarcinoma[3][4][5][7].

Brand names

Opdivo

Other names

anti-CD137 antibody + anti–PD-1 antibodyurelumab plus nivolumab