An anti-LAG-3 immunotherapy given with nivolumab
Relatlimab
An immunotherapy given into a vein for advanced melanoma, used with nivolumab to help the immune system attack cancer.
What is Relatlimab?
Relatlimab is a specialist immunotherapy used to treat advanced melanoma, a serious type of skin cancer. It is a checkpoint inhibitor that blocks a 'brake' on the immune system called LAG-3, and it is given together with another checkpoint inhibitor, nivolumab, as a combined drip into a vein. By taking the brakes off the immune system, it helps the body attack the cancer, but the same action can make the immune system attack healthy organs, causing immune-related side effects that can affect almost any part of the body. These need to be reported and treated early, under specialist supervision.
Education and reference only. This is a plain-language guide to Relatlimab — it deliberately contains no doses. Doses depend on the person, the brand and the reason for treatment, and belong with your prescriber. Always check the BNF, the product labelling (SmPC) and follow medical advice.
What it is
Relatlimab is an immunotherapy medicine used to treat advanced melanoma, a serious skin cancer that has spread or cannot be removed by surgery. It is a type of checkpoint inhibitor that blocks LAG-3, one of the natural 'brakes' that normally stop the immune system from being overactive. It is given together with nivolumab, another checkpoint inhibitor, as a single combined infusion into a vein. By releasing two brakes at once, the combination aims to give the immune system a stronger ability to recognise and attack the cancer. It is used under the care of a specialist cancer team.
How it works
The immune system has built-in 'brakes', called checkpoints, that stop it attacking the body's own tissues; cancers can exploit these brakes to hide. Relatlimab blocks one such brake, LAG-3, while the nivolumab it is given with blocks another, PD-1. With both brakes released, the immune system's T cells are better able to recognise and destroy melanoma cells. The downside of taking the brakes off is that the immune system can also turn on healthy organs, which is why immune-related side effects are the main thing the team watches for. It is given as an infusion at regular intervals.
Company & origin
Originated / developed by: Specialist manufacturer.
A specialist immunotherapy used in the UK to treat advanced melanoma, given together with nivolumab as a combined infusion.
Practical use
How to take Relatlimab
General, dose-free guidance — always follow your prescriber's and the leaflet's specific instructions.
- It is given as a combined drip into a vein with nivolumab by your cancer team, at regular intervals.
- Report any new or worsening symptoms promptly, even if they seem minor or unrelated, as they may be immune-related.
- Tell your team about diarrhoea, tummy pain, breathlessness, cough, rash, or unusual tiredness without delay.
- Do not start steroids or other treatments for side effects yourself; let your specialist team guide this.
- Use effective contraception as advised, because this medicine can harm a developing baby.
Weighing it up
Advantages & disadvantages of Relatlimab
Advantages
- Helps the immune system attack advanced melanoma by releasing a brake called LAG-3.
- Used with nivolumab to release two immune brakes at once for a stronger effect.
- Given as a single combined infusion at regular intervals.
Disadvantages
- Can cause immune-related side effects that affect almost any organ in the body.
- Side effects can come on during or after treatment and can occasionally be severe.
- Often needs steroids and close monitoring to manage immune reactions.
Practical use
Good to know
The most important thing to understand is immune-related side effects: because relatlimab and nivolumab take the brakes off the immune system, it can start attacking healthy organs, and this can affect almost any part of the body. Common examples include the bowel (diarrhoea, tummy pain, blood in the stool), the skin (rash, itching), the liver, the lungs (cough, breathlessness), and hormone glands such as the thyroid, adrenal and pituitary, which can cause tiredness, weight change or feeling unwell. These reactions can come on during treatment or even after it has finished, and can occasionally be severe, so any new or worsening symptom should be reported promptly; treatment often involves steroids to calm the immune system. As with cancer treatment of this kind, it can harm a developing baby, so effective contraception is important.
Who should not take it / use with caution
- People who have had a serious allergic reaction to relatlimab or nivolumab should not receive it.
- It is used with caution in people with active autoimmune conditions, as the immune system may be stirred up further.
- It can harm a developing baby, so it is avoided in pregnancy and effective contraception is needed.
Monitoring
- Regular blood tests, including liver, kidney and hormone-gland checks.
- Watching for immune-related side effects affecting the bowel, skin, lungs, liver and glands.
- Reviewing symptoms at each visit, as reactions can appear even after treatment ends.
Side effects
- Immune-related inflammation of the bowel (diarrhoea), skin (rash, itching), liver or lungs.
- Effects on hormone glands such as the thyroid, adrenal or pituitary, causing tiredness or feeling unwell.
- Tiredness, aches and infusion reactions.
- Rarely but seriously, severe immune reactions affecting any organ, which need urgent treatment.
Key interactions
- Medicines that dampen the immune system, such as steroids, may affect how well it works, so tell your team.
- It has few routine medicine interactions, but a full medicines list is still important.
- Live vaccines are generally avoided during treatment.
Available as: A solution given as a combined drip into a vein with nivolumab.
Answers
Relatlimab: frequently asked questions
What is relatlimab used for?
It is an immunotherapy used to treat advanced melanoma, a serious skin cancer, given together with nivolumab to help the immune system attack the cancer.
How does it work?
It blocks a 'brake' on the immune system called LAG-3, while the nivolumab it is given with blocks another brake, so the immune system is better able to attack the cancer.
What are immune-related side effects?
Because the immune brakes are released, the immune system can attack healthy organs such as the bowel, skin, liver, lungs and hormone glands, so any new symptom should be reported.
Why is it given with nivolumab?
Relatlimab is given as a fixed combination with nivolumab so that two different immune brakes are released at once for a stronger effect against the cancer.
Can side effects appear after treatment ends?
Yes. Immune-related side effects can come on during treatment or even after it has finished, so keep reporting new or worsening symptoms to your team.
Authoritative sources
- BNF
- NICE CKS
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