Yervoy (ipilimumab) is a cancer medicine that is used alone or in combination with other medicines to treat certain types of cancer such as:
skin cancer (melanoma);
non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC);
pleural mesothelioma (cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and chest wall);
kidney cancer;
liver cancer; or
colorectal cancer that has certain specific DNA mutations.
Yervoy is often given when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, or cannot be surgically removed, or has come back after prior treatment.
Yervoy may prevent melanoma from coming back after surgery, including lymph node removal surgery.
Yervoy is given for NSCLC only if your tumor tests positive for "PD-L1" and does not have an abnormal "EGFR" or "ALK" (a specific genetic marker).
