Opdivo drug class?

What drug class is Opdivo (nivolumab)?

Opdivo is a cancer immunotherapy in the class of programmed death 1 (PD-1) inhibitors. It is a monoclonal antibody that blocks the PD-1 pathway, helping the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells [1].

What does “PD-1 inhibitor” mean for how Opdivo works?

By binding PD-1 on T cells, Opdivo interferes with signals that normally reduce immune activity. This can increase T-cell responses against tumors, which is why it is used across multiple cancer types [1].

Is Opdivo considered a chemotherapy or an immunotherapy?

Opdivo is not chemotherapy. It is an immunotherapy (a PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor) [1].

What other drug classes are related to Opdivo?

Drugs in the same general therapeutic approach are also immune checkpoint inhibitors, including:
- PD-L1 inhibitors (similar target family, different binding partner)
- CTLA-4 inhibitors (another checkpoint target)
These are grouped by mechanism rather than being the same exact drug class [1].

Sources

[1] https://www.drugs.com/opdivo.html