Nivolumab is an immunotherapy medication used in melanoma, lung cancer, kidney cancer, and other malignancies.
It is also a PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor, similar to pembrolizumab.
Nivolumab works by enhancing the activity of the immune system against cancer cells by blocking inhibitory signals. This may allow immune cells to better identify and destroy cancer cells.
As with other immunotherapies, increased immune activity may also affect normal organs, and monitoring for immune-related effects is important.