varlilumab + ipilimumab

Varlilumab + ipilimumab is a combination of two monoclonal antibodies used in cancer immunotherapy. Varlilumab is a fully human agonist antibody targeting CD27, a co-stimulatory molecule on T cells, which enhances T cell activation and proliferation and can also deplete regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the tumor microenvironment[6]. Ipilimumab is an immune checkpoint inhibitor that targets cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4), blocking its inhibitory effect on T cell activation, thereby promoting anti-tumor immune responses[3][8]. The combination aims to synergistically enhance anti-tumor immunity by both stimulating effector T cells (via CD27) and removing inhibitory signals (via CTLA-4). Varlilumab was developed by Celldex Therapeutics; ipilimumab was developed by Bristol Myers Squibb/Medarex[6][8].