USFDA has approved the combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab as the first-line treatment for malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) in adults who cannot undergo surgery. It is the first drug approved in 16 years and the second FDA-approved systemic therapy, to treat mesothelioma. This newly available treatment combination has been demonstrated to be beneficial in patients with MPM. MPM is a life-threatening condition characterized by the cancer of the lung lining which is caused by inhaling the asbestos fibres.
This drug combination of monoclonal antibodies acts by decreasing the tumour growth by improving T-cell function. A randomized trial concluded that the survival period for the patients who received the combination was 18.1 months and those who underwent chemotherapy was 14.1 months. The common side-effects observed are: Fatigue, muscle pain, rash, nausea, diarrhoea, dyspnoea,…
