How often is nivolumab infused in a typical treatment cycle?

How often is nivolumab infused for standard melanoma dosing?

Nivolumab is given every two weeks at 240 mg or every four weeks at 480 mg as a 30-minute intravenous infusion. The four-week schedule is used once the patient has completed the initial phase and is in maintenance.

What changes when nivolumab is combined with ipilimumab?

When paired with ipilimumab, nivolumab is infused at 1 mg/kg every three weeks for the first four cycles. After that, nivolumab continues alone at either 240 mg every two weeks or 480 mg every four weeks.

How does dosing differ for non-small cell lung cancer?

In lung cancer, the same 240 mg every-two-weeks or 480 mg every-four-weeks schedule applies whether nivolumab is used alone or after platinum-based chemotherapy.

When does the patent for nivolumab expire?

The composition-of-matter patent for nivolumab expires in 2027 in the United States, with possible pediatric exclusivity extending protection into 2028. [1]

Can biosimilars launch before patent expiry?

Biosimilar versions cannot launch until the primary patent and any regulatory exclusivity periods end; current litigation centers on whether secondary formulation or method-of-use patents will block earlier entry. [1]

[1] https://www.drugpatentwatch.com