Ipilimumab (Yervoy) for the treatment of melanoma

Ipilimumab is given as an infusion (IV drip), entering the bloodstream directly through a vein. The infusion takes about 90 minutes. The exact dose will depend on the patient's body weight. The entire treatment with ipilimumab takes 12 weeks, during which the drug is given four times at intervals of three weeks.

Adults with advanced melanoma have several treatment options. These options depend on whether they have had treatment before and whether they have a specific mutated protein in the tumor tissue (BRAF V600 mutation). This protein can lead to uncontrolled tumor growth.

• The first-line treatment options include vemurafenib, cobimetinib, dabrafenib, trametinib, nivolumab and pembrolizumab.
• Subsequent treatment can be individually tailored by a doctor. This treatment will depend on which treatments have been tried before.

For teenagers, treatment can also be individually tailored by a doctor.

In 2018, the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG, Germany) looked into whether people with advanced melanoma can benefit from treatment with ipilimumab.

The manufacturer did not provide any suitable studies regarding teenagers.

The manufacturer provided suitable studies for the following groups:

• Ipilimumab alone for adults who have had treatment before
• Ipilimumab in combination with nivolumab for adults who have not had treatment before and who don't have a BRAF V600 mutation

This information summarizes the main results of reviews produced by the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG, Germany). The reviews were commissioned by the German Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) as part of the “early benefit assessment of medications.” On the basis of the reviews and the hearings received, the G-BA passed a resolution on the added benefit of ipilimumab (Yervoy) in first-line and subsequent treatment for teenagers and adults, and in combination with nivolumab (Opdivo).