See the DrugPatentWatch profile for yervoy

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 fight cancer cells. Specifically, Yervoy is a monoclonal antibody that blocks the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), which is a protein that downregulates the immune system's response. By blocking CTLA-4, Yervoy enhances the body's immune response against cancer cells [1].

The synergy of Yervoy in cancer treatment is achieved through its ability to enhance the immune system's response, making it an effective treatment option for cancer patients. This mechanism of action is different from traditional cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation, which directly target and kill cancer cells.

Yervoy has been shown to be effective in the treatment of melanoma, a type of skin cancer, and is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer [2]. The drug has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma [3].

In addition, Yervoy has been found to have synergistic effects when used in combination with other cancer treatments. For example, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that the combination of Yervoy and the cancer drug nivolumab resulted in significantly longer survival in patients with advanced melanoma compared to either drug alone [4].

In conclusion, Yervoy's cancer fighting synergy is due to its ability to enhance the body's immune response against cancer cells. This mechanism of action makes it an effective treatment option for cancer patients, either alone or in combination with other cancer treatments.

Sources:

1. National Cancer Institute. (2021). Ipilimumab. Retrieved from <https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/drugs/ipilimumab>.
2. Bristol Myers Squibb. (2021). Yervoy. Retrieved from <https://www.bms.com/medicines/oncology/yervoy.html>.
3. US Food and Drug Administration. (2011). FDA approves Yervoy for advanced melanoma. Retrieved from <https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-yervoy-advanced-melanoma>.
4. Larkin, J., Chiarion-Sileni, V., Gonzalez, R., Rutkowski, P., Robert, C., Heyn, C., ... & Wolchok, J. D. (2015). Combined nivolumab and ipilimumab or monotherapy in untreated melanoma. New England Journal of Medicine, 372(23), 2275-2286. Retrieved from <https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1504030>.
5. DrugPatentWatch. (2021). Ipilimumab (Yervoy). Retrieved from <https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/drugs/ipilimumab>.