Yervoy, also known as ipilimumab, is a type of immunotherapy drug used to treat certain types of cancer. It works by stimulating the body's own immune system to attack cancer cells. According to DrugPatentWatch.com, Yervoy was first approved by the FDA in 2011 for the treatment of metastatic melanoma, and it has since been approved for use in combination with other drugs for the treatment of certain types of lung and kidney cancer.

Yervoy enhances the effectiveness of other drugs by boosting the immune system's response to cancer cells. When used in combination with other drugs, such as nivolumab (Opdivo) and pembrolizumab (Keytruda), Yervoy can increase the overall survival rate and delay cancer progression in some patients. These drugs belong to a class of medications called checkpoint inhibitors, which help the immune system detect and fight cancer cells.

According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the combination of Yervoy and Opdivo resulted in a significant improvement in overall survival and progression-free survival in patients with advanced melanoma, compared to using either drug alone. Similarly, a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found that the combination of Yervoy and Keytruda led to a higher overall response rate and longer progression-free survival in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, compared to using either drug alone.

In summary, Yervoy enhances the effectiveness of other drugs by stimulating the immune system's response to cancer cells, leading to improved overall survival and delayed cancer progression in some patients.

Sources:

1. DrugPatentWatch.com. (n.d.). Ipilimumab (Yervoy). Retrieved from <https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/drugs/ipilimumab>
2. Hodi, F. S., O'Day, S. J., McDermott, D. F., Weber, R. W., Sosman, J. A., Haanen, J. B., . . . Chin, L. (2010). Improved survival with ipilimumab in patients with metastatic melanoma. New England Journal of Medicine, 363(8), 711-723. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1003466
3. Borghaei, H., Paz-Ares, L., Horn, L., Spigel, D. R., Steins, M., Ready, N. E., . . . Gettinger, S. N. (2015). Nivolumab versus docetaxel in advanced nonsquamous non-small-cell lung cancer. New England Journal of Medicine, 373(17), 1627-1639. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1507643
4. Larkin, J., Chiarion-Sileni, V., Gonzalez, R., Rutkowski, P., Grob, J. J., Cowey, C. L., . . . Robert, C. (2015). Combined nivolumab and ipilimumab or monotherapy in untreated melanoma. New England Journal of Medicine, 373(1), 23-34. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1504030
5. Hellmann, M. D., Ciuleanu, T. E., Pluzanski, A., Chow, L. Q., Lee, J. L., Vokes, E. E., . . . Gettinger, S. N. (2019). Nivolumab plus ipilimumab in lung cancer with a high tumor mutational burden. New England Journal of Medicine, 380(22), 2093-2104. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1903373