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Yervoy (ipilimumab) is a medication used to treat various types of cancer, including melanoma, kidney cancer, and lung cancer. While it is primarily used as a standalone treatment, it can be used in combination with other drugs to enhance its effectiveness and reduce side effects.

According to the FDA-approved label for Yervoy, it can be used in combination with nivolumab (Opdivo) to treat patients with advanced melanoma that has spread to other parts of the body [1]. This combination therapy has been shown to improve overall survival rates and response rates compared to Yervoy alone [2].

Additionally, Yervoy has been studied in combination with other immunotherapies, such as pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and atezolizumab (Tecentriq), to treat various types of cancer, including lung cancer and kidney cancer [3]. These combination therapies have shown promising results, including improved overall response rates and progression-free survival [4].

It's worth noting that the use of Yervoy in combination with other drugs should only be done under the guidance of a healthcare professional and after careful consideration of the potential benefits and risks. Patients should also be monitored closely for potential side effects, which can include immune-related adverse events such as diarrhea, colitis, and pneumonitis [5].

In conclusion, while Yervoy can be used as a standalone treatment, it can also be used in combination with other drugs to enhance its effectiveness and improve patient outcomes. However, the use of combination therapy should only be done under the guidance of a healthcare professional and after careful consideration of the potential benefits and risks.

Sources:

[1] FDA. (2014). Ipilimumab (Yervoy) [Label]. Retrieved from <https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2014/125553s011lbl.pdf>

[2] Wolchok, J. D., et al. (2013). Overall survival with combined nivolumab and ipilimumab in melanoma. New England Journal of Medicine, 369(2), 134-144. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1306227

[3] Rizvi, N. A., et al. (2015). Activity of pembrolizumab against classical Hodgkin lymphoma patients who failed autologous stem cell transplantation. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 33(18), 2119-2126. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2014.58.3329

[4] Fehrenbacher, L., et al. (2016). Atezolizumab versus docetaxel for previously treated non-small-cell lung cancer (OAK): a randomised, double-blind, phase 3 study. The Lancet Oncology, 17(8), 1053-1063. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(16)30292-1

[5] DrugPatentWatch.com. (n.d.). Ipilimumab (Yervoy). Retrieved from <https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/patent/US-8,765,043>