A new drug combination may help people with advanced melanoma, Elizabeth Tracey reports

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People who are newly diagnosed with melanoma that has already spread throughout their bodies or can’t be removed surgically have a new treatment option, a recent study finds. The treatment uses two so-called ‘immune checkpoint inhibitors’ explains William Nelson, director of the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins.

Nelson: The combination of relatlimab and nivolumab had about 18% or so significant toxicities. They typically are ‘itisis,’ colitis, pneumonitis. In the nivolumab and ipilimumab one it’s about 59%, that’s a pretty toxic regimen to give. So if that proves to be true that you can get the same improvement in outcome with less in the way of side effects or complications it’ll definitely be a hit.  :31

Nelson notes that about 10% of people with melanoma will present with disease at this advanced stage and may benefit. At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.