Opvido (Nivolumab) for Melanoma

Overview
Opvido is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of various types of cancer, including for adults and children 12 and up living with unresectable (inoperable) melanoma or metastatic melanoma (melanoma that has spread), either as a single agent or in combination with ipilimumab (Yervoy). It is also approved for the adjuvant (follow up) treatment of adults and children 12 and up with melanoma with lymph-node involvement or with metastatic disease who’ve undergone surgery to completely remove their tumor. Opvido is also known by its drug name, nivolumab.

Nivolumab belongs to a class of medications known as programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) blocking antibodies. It works by enhancing the body’s immune response against melanoma cells. The drug essentially blocks the PD-1 pathway, which cancers use to hide from the immune system. This allows the immune system to recognize and attack the cancer cells.

How do I take it?
Opvido is administered via intravenous (IV) infusion. The dosage and frequency depend on a person’s weight and the specific condition being treated. For unresectable or metastatic melanoma, adults and children typically receive infusions every two weeks or four weeks. It’s crucial that the medication be taken exactly as prescribed by a health care provider.

Side effects
Common side effects of Opvido include fatigue, rash, musculoskeletal pain, pruritus (itching), diarrhea, nausea, asthenia (weakness), cough, dyspnea (difficulty breathing), constipation, decreased appetite, back pain, arthralgia (joint pain), upper respiratory tract infection, pyrexia (fever), headache, abdominal pain, vomiting, and urinary tract infection. When used in combination with ipilimumab, additional side effects such as hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), decreased weight, and dizziness may occur.

Rare but serious side effects may include immune-mediated adverse reactions, including immune-mediated pneumonitis, colitis, hepatitis, and hepatotoxicity; endocrinopathies; dermatologic (skin) reactions; nephritis (kidney) and renal (liver) dysfunction; infusion-related reactions; and embryo-fetal toxicity. It’s important to monitor for early identification and management of these reactions.

For more information about this treatment, visit

Highlights of Prescribing Information: Opvido — U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Nivolumab Injection — MedlinePlus