Libtayo is not a chemotherapy drug.
Instead of being a chemotherapy drug, Libtayo is a type of cancer treatment, which is called immunotherapy, most specifically a PD-1 inhibitor, which helps the body's immune system recognize and attack the cancer cells, instead of directly killing the rapidly dividing cancer cells like chemotherapy drugs do.
Although Libtayo is different from chemotherapy drugs, Libtayo can also sometimes be used in combination with chemotherapy for some certain types of cancers like advanced lung cancer, to help boost the effectiveness of the cancer treatment.
Libtayo is a prescription drug that is used as an immunotherapy to treat certain types of cancer, most specifically advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma and non small cell lung cancer.
Libtayo works by blocking the PD-1 pathway, and helps the immune system recognize and attack the cancer cells.
Chemotherapy works to treat cancer by using strong drugs to kill the fast growing cells, including the cancer cells, although chemotherapy can also kill off many healthy cells, which can lead to different side effects.
Libtayo is a powerful cancer treatment drug, and it functions by harnessing your body's own defenses, which is what makes Libtayo different and distinct from traditional chemotherapy drugs.
The cancer drug, Libtayo is approved for metastatic or locally advanced CSCC, locally advanced or metastatic BCC (previously treated with a hedgehog pathway inhibitor), and first-line treatment for NSCLC with high PD-L1 expression.
And as a monoclonal antibody, the Libtayo drug binds to the PD-1 receptor on T-cells, which prevent cancer cells from suppressing your immune system.
Libtayo is given and administered by IV or intravenous infusion, and typically every 3 weeks.
Side effects of Libtayo are fatigue, rash, diarrhea and musculoskeletal pain.
And serious immune mediated side effects can also occur with Libtayo, where your immune system attacks healthy organs.
People that may take and use Libtayo should also inform their doctor, if they have any autoimmune diseases, organ transplants or any nervous system issues.
With Libtayo, the five-year probability of survival was found to be 19.4% for the Libtayo combination versus 8.8% for chemotherapy.
8.2-month median progression-free survival (PFS) versus 5.5 months, representing a 42% reduction in the risk of disease progression (HR: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.47–0.72).
43.6% objective response rate (ORR) versus 22.1%.