and any AST) or severe (TB >3 × ULN and any AST) hepatic impairment. [See Clinical Pharmacology (12.3).]
OVERDOSAGE
There is no information on overdosage with Yervoy.
DESCRIPTION
Yervoy (ipilimumab) is a recombinant, human monoclonal antibody that binds to the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4). Ipilimumab is an IgG1 kappa immunoglobulin with an approximate molecular weight of 148 kDa. Ipilimumab is produced in mammalian (Chinese hamster ovary) cell culture.
Yervoy is a sterile, preservative-free, clear to slightly opalescent, colorless to pale-yellow solution for intravenous infusion, which may contain a small amount of visible translucent-to-white, amorphous ipilimumab particulates. It is supplied in single-use vials of 50 mg/10 mL and 200 mg/40 mL. Each milliliter contains 5 mg of ipilimumab and the following inactive ingredients: diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) (0.04 mg), mannitol (10 mg), polysorbate 80 (vegetable origin) (0.1 mg), sodium chloride (5.85 mg), tris hydrochloride (3.15 mg), and Water for Injection, USP at a pH of 7.
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
Mechanism of Action
CTLA-4 is a negative regulator of T-cell activation. Ipilimumab binds to CTLA-4 and blocks the interaction of CTLA-4 with its ligands, CD80/CD86. Blockade of CTLA-4 has been shown to augment T-cell activation and proliferation. The mechanism of action of ipilimumab’s effect in patients with melanoma is indirect, possibly through T-cell mediated anti-tumor immune responses.
Pharmacokinetics
The pharmacokinetics of ipilimumab were studied in 785 patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma who received doses of 0.3, 3, or 10 mg/kg once every 3 weeks for 4 doses. Peak concentration (Cmax), trough concentration (Cmin), and area under the plasma concentration versus time curve (AUC) of ipilimumab increased dose proportionally within the dose range examined. Upon repeated dosing every 3 weeks, the clearance (CL) of ipilimumab was found to be time-invariant, and systemic accumulation was 1.5-fold or less. Steady-state concentrations of ipilimumab were reached by the third dose; the mean Cmin at steady-state was 19.4 mcg/mL following repeated doses of 3 mg/kg. The mean value (% coefficient of variation) generated through population pharmacokinetic analysis for the terminal half-life (t1/2) was 15.4 days (34%) and for CL was 16.8 mL/h (38%).
Specific Populations: The effects of various covariates on the pharmacokinetics of ipilimumab were assessed in population pharmacokinetic analyses. The CL of ipilimumab increased with increasing body weight; however, no dose adjustment is recommended for body weight after administration on a mg/kg basis. The following factors had no clinically important effect on the CL of ipilimumab: age (range: 23–88 years), gender, performance status, renal impairment, mild hepatic impairment, previous cancer therapy, and baseline lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels. The effect of race was not examined due to limited data available in non-Caucasian ethnic groups.
Renal Impairment: The effect of renal impairment on the CL of ipilimumab was eva luated in patients with mild (GFR <90 and ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2; n=349), moderate (GFR <60 and ≥30 mL/min/1.73 m2; n=82), or severe (GFR <30 and ≥15 mL/min/1.73 m2; n=4) renal impairment compared to patients with normal renal function (GFR ≥90 mL/min/1.73 m2; n=350) in popu |
