Nivolumab + Relatlimab + Ipilimumab for Melanoma

Overseen By Hussein Tawbi, MD,PHD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase 1 & 2

Sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Must not be taking: Corticosteroids, Immunosuppressives, Herbal supplements, others

Disqualifiers: Ocular melanoma, Autoimmune disease, Hepatitis, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Breakthrough Therapy This drug has been fast-tracked for approval by the FDA given its high promise

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a combination of three treatments—Nivolumab, Relatlimab, and Ipilimumab, all immunotherapy drugs—to determine the best dose and assess their safety and effectiveness against advanced melanoma, a serious type of skin cancer. The researchers aim to discover if this combination can manage the disease better than current treatments. Participants should have advanced melanoma that has not been treated with systemic therapy before. This trial might suit those diagnosed with stage III or IV melanoma who have not undergone specific prior treatments. As a Phase 1, Phase 2 trial, the research focuses on understanding how the treatment works in people and measuring its effectiveness in an initial, smaller group, offering participants a chance to contribute to groundbreaking advancements in melanoma treatment.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial protocol does not specify if you must stop taking your current medications. However, the use of corticosteroids is not allowed for 14 days before starting the trial, except for certain cases like physiological replacement. It's best to discuss your specific medications with the trial team.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Previous studies found the combination of nivolumab and relatlimab to be safe, with side effects that doctors expected based on past experiences. However, adding ipilimumab to nivolumab can cause more immune-related side effects, such as skin rashes or liver problems, which are common in treatments that boost the immune system.

Using relatlimab with nivolumab increases the risk of heart-related issues compared to nivolumab alone. While these drugs can effectively treat melanoma, they may also cause side effects that require monitoring.

These treatments have been studied before, and doctors know what to watch for. If this combination works for a patient, doctors will closely monitor their health to manage any side effects. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial's treatments?

Researchers are excited about the combination of Nivolumab, Relatlimab, and Ipilimumab for melanoma because it introduces a novel approach by targeting different immune checkpoints simultaneously. Unlike the standard treatments that typically involve single-agent immunotherapies like Nivolumab or Ipilimumab, this combination leverages Relatlimab to target the LAG-3 protein, in addition to the PD-1 and CTLA-4 pathways. This multi-targeted strategy could potentially enhance the immune system's ability to fight melanoma more effectively and may lead to improved outcomes for patients who have limited options with current therapies.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for melanoma?

Studies have shown that using nivolumab and ipilimumab together treats advanced melanoma more effectively than using each drug alone. Research also suggests that adding relatlimab to nivolumab works as well as the combination of ipilimumab and nivolumab. In this trial, participants will receive the combination of nivolumab, relatlimab, and ipilimumab. This combination has shown promising results, with some studies reporting that up to 56% of patients respond positively. For patients with advanced melanoma, these treatments have extended survival without disease progression. Overall, these drugs enhance the immune system's ability to fight cancer cells. ^{1 3 4 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Hussein A. Tawbi

Principal Investigator

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals with metastatic melanoma, which means their skin cancer has spread to other parts of the body. They should be receiving this treatment as their first line of therapy. Specific details about who can or cannot participate are not provided here.

Inclusion Criteria

I know my BRAF V600 mutation status or agree to be tested.

I am fully active or can carry out light work.

I have signed the consent form for this study.

Exclusion Criteria

I have been diagnosed with eye melanoma.

The use of herbal supplements within 7 days

Subjects with major medical, neurologic or psychiatric condition who are judged as unable to fully comply with study therapy or assessments should not be enrolled

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Phase I Treatment

Determine the recommended Phase IIa dose (RP2D) of ipilimumab in combination with nivolumab and relatlimab

12 weeks

Phase IIa Treatment

Determine the preliminary clinical efficacy of ipilimumab at the RP2D in combination with nivolumab and relatlimab

24 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Ipilimumab
• Nivolumab
• Relatlimab

Trial Overview The study is testing a combination of three drugs: Nivolumab, Relatlimab, and Ipilimumab in patients with metastatic melanoma. The goal is to find the safest and most effective dose for Phase IIa of the trial.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Phase I + IIa: Nivolumab + Relatlimab + Ipilimumab Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Participants particiapting on study will be randomized

Ipilimumab is already approved in United States, European Union for the following indications:

Approved in United States as Yervoy for:

• Advanced melanoma
• Stage III unresectable melanoma
• Stage IV metastatic melanoma

Approved in European Union as Yervoy for:

• Advanced melanoma
• Stage III unresectable melanoma
• Stage IV metastatic melanoma

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

3,107

Recruited

1,813,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The combination of nivolumab and relatlimab shows a manageable safety profile for patients with advanced melanoma who have already undergone treatment.

This combination therapy may offer a new option for patients with pretreated melanoma, suggesting potential efficacy in this challenging patient population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Nivolumab Plus Relatlimab Is Safe and Efficacious in Pretreated Melanoma. [2023]

Nivolumab plus relatlimab is a combination immunotherapy that targets immune checkpoints, specifically PD-1 and LAG-3, and has been approved for treating unresectable or metastatic melanoma in adults and adolescents weighing at least 40 kg.

This combination therapy represents a significant advancement in cancer treatment, as it utilizes two different mechanisms to enhance the immune response against cancer cells.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Nivolumab Plus Relatlimab: First Approval. Paik, J.[2022]

In a phase 2 trial involving 142 patients with untreated advanced melanoma, the combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab resulted in a 2-year overall survival rate of 63.8%, compared to 53.6% for those receiving ipilimumab alone, suggesting improved survival outcomes with the combination therapy.

However, the combination treatment was associated with a higher incidence of severe side effects, with 54% of patients experiencing grade 3-4 adverse events compared to 20% in the ipilimumab-only group, indicating a trade-off between efficacy and safety.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Combined nivolumab and ipilimumab versus ipilimumab alone in patients with advanced melanoma: 2-year overall survival outcomes in a multicentre, randomised, controlled, phase 2 trial. Hodi, FS., Chesney, J., Pavlick, AC., et al.[2022]

In a study of 129 patients with advanced melanoma treated with nivolumab and relatlimab, those without diabetes had significantly better progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) compared to patients with type 2 diabetes, indicating that diabetes negatively impacts treatment efficacy.

Interestingly, patients who developed immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced diabetes (ICI-DM) during treatment had the best outcomes, suggesting that this condition may enhance the effectiveness of the therapy, possibly due to changes in LAG3 expression in tumor tissue.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The role of diabetes in metastatic melanoma patients treated with nivolumab plus relatlimab. Mallardo, D., Woodford, R., Menzies, AM., et al.[2023]

Combining nivolumab and ipilimumab shows improved effectiveness in treating metastatic melanoma compared to using either drug alone, based on a retrospective analysis of approximately 7700 patients.

The combination therapy presents a safety profile that includes immune-related adverse events from both drugs, indicating that while the combination is effective, it also carries a heightened risk of toxicity that needs further investigation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Retrospective Side Effect Profiling of the Metastatic Melanoma Combination Therapy Ipilimumab-Nivolumab Using Adverse Event Data. Soldatos, TG., Dimitrakopoulou-Strauss, A., Larribere, L., et al.[2022]

Nivolumab (Opdivo) monotherapy led to complete regression of local recurrence and multiple lung metastases in a patient with recurrent skin melanoma and a positive BRAF mutation, demonstrating its efficacy as a treatment option.

After 5 courses of nivolumab, the patient experienced significant improvement in her condition, achieving an ECOG performance status of 0, indicating a return to an active lifestyle without pain, and normal serum LDH levels.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[EVALUATION OF THE EFFICASY OF THE DRUG OPDIVO (NIVOLUMAB) IN A PATIENT DIAGNOSED WITH UNRESECTABLE SKIN MELANOMA, POSITIVE BRAF MUTATION AND DISEASE DISSEMINATION (CASE REPORT)]. Samsonia, M., Kandelaki, M., Gibradze, O., et al.[2021]

The combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab, two immune checkpoint inhibitors, is a promising treatment for advanced melanoma, enhancing the body's immune response against the cancer.

Adding denosumab to this treatment may further improve anti-tumor effects by counteracting the immunosuppressive environment created by CD8+ T cells, as suggested by recent reports.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Successful Treatment of Multiple Metastatic Melanoma with Nivolumab, Ipilimumab plus Denosumab Combined Therapy. Yoshida, S., Fujimura, T., Kambayashi, Y., et al.[2020]

The CheckMate 511 study found that using nivolumab 3 mg/kg plus ipilimumab 1 mg/kg (NIVO3+IPI1) resulted in a significantly lower incidence of severe treatment-related adverse events (34%) compared to nivolumab 1 mg/kg plus ipilimumab 3 mg/kg (NIVO1+IPI3) which had a 48% incidence (P = .006).

While the efficacy outcomes such as objective response rate (45.6% for NIVO3+IPI1 vs. 50.6% for NIVO1+IPI3) and median progression-free survival (9.9 months vs. 8.9 months) were similar between the two groups, the NIVO3+IPI1 regimen showed a better safety profile without compromising effectiveness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of Two Dosing Regimens for Nivolumab in Combination With Ipilimumab in Patients With Advanced Melanoma: Results From the Phase IIIb/IV CheckMate 511 Trial. Lebbé, C., Meyer, N., Mortier, L., et al.[2020]

Citations

1. cancernetwork.com cancernetwork.com/view/relatlimab-shows-comparable-efficacy-to-ipilimumab-in-advanced-melanoma

Relatlimab Shows Comparable Efficacy to Ipilimumab in ... The addition of relatlimab (Opdualag) to nivolumab (Opdivo) exhibited comparable efficacy outcomes vs ipilimumab (Yervoy) and nivolumab in patients with ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10164023/

The Latest Option: Nivolumab and Relatlimab in Advanced ... Based on the results of two phase 2 trials the combination therapy with ipilimumab and nivolumab lead to an ORR of up to 56% intracranially in patients with ...

3. opdualaghcp.com opdualaghcp.com/efficacy/melanoma/relativity-047

Efficacy | Opdualag® (nivolumab and relatlimab-rmbw) for HCPs *Based on the 13.2-month median final analysis, the primary endpoint of PFS was statistically significant; mPFS† was 10.1 months (95% CI: 6.4–15.7) with ...

4. news.bms.com news.bms.com/news/details/2025/Bristol-Myers-Squibb-Provides-Update-on-Phase-3-RELATIVITY-098-Trial/default.aspx

Bristol Myers Squibb Provides Update on Phase 3 ... RELATIVITY-098 is a randomized Phase 3, double-blind study evaluating adjuvant immunotherapy with Opdualag, the fixed-dose combination of nivolumab and ...

5. curemelanoma.org curemelanoma.org/patient-eng/melanoma-treatment/options/nivolumab-opdivo-ipilimumab-yervoy

Nivolumab (Opdivo) + Ipilimumab (Yervoy) When used together, nivolumab and ipilimumab can treat advanced melanoma more effectively than each drug on its own. This combination of two immunotherapy drugs ...

6. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40684089/

Comparative safety of nivolumab plus ipilimumab versus ... Conclusion: NIVO-IPI is linked with a broader range of immune-related toxicities, whereas NIVO-RELA presents higher cardiac-specific risks.

7. onclive.com onclive.com/view/sarilumab-plus-ipilimumab-nivolumab-and-relatlimab-displays-high-response-rate-in-unresectable-melanoma

Sarilumab Plus Ipilimumab, Nivolumab, and Relatlimab ... The combination therapy achieved a 24-week overall response rate of 63.6% and a clinical benefit rate of 78.8% in patients with advanced ...