Immune checkpoints are a part of the immune system which prevents immune response that destroys healthy cells in the body. They engage with proteins on the surface of T-cells and bind to partner proteins on other cells and form immune checkpoint proteins. When the checkpoint and partner proteins bind together, they send an off signal to the T cells, which could prevent the immune system from destroying cancer cells. Immune checkpoint inhibitors bind with high affinity to the cell surface receptor programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and antagonize its interaction with its known ligands PD-L1 and PD-L2, which prevents the inhibition of the TCR-mediated T-cell proliferation and cytokine production, causing a physiological shift towards immune reactivity and enhancing tumor immunosurveillance and anti-tumor immune response. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are indicated for melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, head and neck cancer, hodgkin’s lymphoma, B-cell lymphomas, urothelial carcinoma, gastric cancer, esophageal cancer, cervical cancer, and others. Novartis, Merck (MSD), Ono Pharma, BMS, AstraZeneca, BeiGene, Gilead Sciences, Roche, GSK, and Eli Lilly & Company are some of the major players in the Immune checkpoint inhibitors market.
Key Market Developments:
- In Apr 2023, ALX Oncology and Sanofi entered into a clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement to evaluate the combination of Evorpacept and Isatuximab-irfc.
- In May 2023, TRACON Pharmaceuticals planned to launch Envafolimab for soft tissue sarcoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma in 2025.
Approved Drug Molecules and Brand Names for Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors:
- Keytruda (Pembrolizumab)
- Opdivo (Nivolumab)
- Tecentriq (Atezolizumab)
- Imfinzi (Durvalumab)
- Baizean (Tislelizumab)
- Yervoy (Ipilimumab)
- AiRuiKa (Camrelizumab)
- Tuoyi (Toripalimab)
- Tyvyt (Sintilimab)
- Bavencio (Avelumab)
- Darzalex (Daratumumab)
- Libtayo (Cemiplimab)
- Orencia (Abatacept)
- Darzalex Faspro (Daratumumab/Hyaluronidase)
- Kaitanni (Cadonilimab)
- Sarclisa (Isatuximab-irfc)
- Jemperli (Dostarlimab-gxly)
- Anniko (Penpulimab)
- Hansizhuang (Serplulimab)
- Enweida (Envafolimab)
- zimberelimab (AB122)
- Nulojix (Belatacept)
- Opdualag (Nivolumab/Relatlimab)
- Lexiscan (Regadenoson)
Drugs under the Pipeline for Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors:
- Imjudo (Tremelimumab)
- Tiragolumab (RG6058)
- Relatlimab (BMS-986016)
- APL-502
- Bintrafusp alfa (M7824)
- Zynyz (Retifanlimab-dlwr)
- Retlirafusp alfa (SHR-1701)
- Spartalizumab (PDR001)
- Adebrelimab (SHR-1316)
- Magrolimab (GS-4721)
- Balstilimab (AGEN2034)
- Ezabenlimab (BI 754091)
- Ivonescimab (AK112)
- Puyouheng (Pucotenlimab)
- Vibostolimab/Pembrolizumab (MK-7684A)
- Favezelimab/Pembrolizumab (MK-4280A)
- Sabatolimab (MBG453)
- Domvanalimab (AB154)
- Epacadostat (INCB024360)
- Erfonrilimab (KN046)
- Iparomlimab/Tuvonralimab (PSB205)
- Caffeine citrate
- Cetrelimab (JNJ-63723283)
- Ociperlimab (BGB-A1217)
- MK-4830
- Etrumadenant (AB928) and others
Clinical Activity and Developments of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors:
Currently, there are more than 700 drug products in the immune checkpoint inhibitors, including 24 approved drug products and the rest of them are in the clinical development phases.
- In May 2023, Merck (MSD) conducted phase-II trials in gastric cancer and ovarian cancer for Pembrolizumab/Vibostolimab combination.
- In May 2023, Novartis completed phase-II clinical trials in myelodysplastic syndromes for Sabatolimab in Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, and Spain.
|
Molecule Name |
Number of Studies |
|
Imjudo (Tremelimumab) |
126 |
|
Tiragolumab (RG6058) |
49 |
|
Relatlimab (BMS-986016) |
45 |
|
APL-502 |
34 |
|
Bintrafusp alfa (M7824) |
34 |
|
Zynyz (Retifanlimab-dlwr) |
33 |
|
Retlirafusp alfa (SHR-1701) |
27 |
|
Spartalizumab (PDR001) |
27 |
|
Adebrelimab (SHR-1316) |
25 |
|
Magrolimab (GS-4721) |
25 |
|
Balstilimab (AGEN2034) |
21 |
|
Ezabenlimab (BI 754091) |
20 |
|
Ivonescimab (AK112) |
20 |
|
Puyouheng (Pucotenlimab) |
19 |
|
Vibostolimab/Pembrolizumab (MK-7684A) |
17 |
|
Favezelimab/Pembrolizumab (MK-4280A) |
16 |
|
Sabatolimab (MBG453) |
16 |
|
Domvanalimab (AB154) |
15 |
|
Epacadostat (INCB024360) |
15 |
|
Erfonrilimab (KN046) |
15 |
|
Iparomlimab/Tuvonralimab (PSB205) |
15 |
|
Caffeine citrate |
14 |
|
Cetrelimab (JNJ-63723283) |
14 |
|
Ociperlimab (BGB-A1217) |
14 |
|
MK-4830 |
13 |
|
Etrumadenant (AB928) |
13 |
Target Indication Analysis of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
Immune checkpoint inhibitors such as Pembrolizumab, Nivolumab, Atezolizumab, Durvalumab, Tislelizumab and others are primarily indicated for the treatment of melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, head and neck cancer, hodgkin’s lymphoma, primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma, gastric cancer, esophageal cancer, cervical cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, endometrial carcinoma, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, triple-negative breast cancer, others. Moreover, there are numerous drugs in the clinical trial phases for other cancerous conditions.
Regional Analysis of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Market
Merck (MSD)’s Bavencio had a growth of 57.9%, and the net sales rose to US$ 665 million in 2022 from US$ 406 million in 2021. Roche’s Tecentriq had a total sale of US$ 4139 million in the year 2022. AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi had total sales of US$ 2,784 million including, sales of US$ 1,552 in the USA, US$ 287 in the emerging markets, US$ 544 in Europe. According to the World Health Organization, breast cancer is the most common cancer occurring in women (22,61,419 patients globally), with the highest number of cancer rates in the USA (253,465 patients), followed by France (58,083), and Australia (19,617 patients). For hodgkin's lymphoma India, was at the top with 9,221 new cases, followed by the US (8,107), and China (6,829). For gastric cancer, approximately 1.1 million new cases were estimated in 2020, with the highest incidence rate in Eastern Asia, Japan, Mongolia, and Korea. There were 96,445 new cases of malignant melanoma in the USA, followed by Germany (31,468), and UK (19,256). For renal cell carcinoma, the number of new cases was highest in China (73,587), followed by the USA (69,569), and Japan (25,145). All these increasing cases of cancer mark the growth potential for the CD137 agonists market.
Latin America
Europe
Asia Pacific
Middle East
North America
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Frequently Asked Questions
Keytruda (Pembrolizumab), Opdivo (Nivolumab), Tecentriq (Atezolizumab), Imfinzi (Durvalumab), Baizean (Tislelizumab), Yervoy (Ipilimumab) are some of the approved immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Novartis, Merck (MSD), Ono Pharma, BMS, AstraZeneca, BeiGene, Gilead Sciences, Roche, GSK, and Eli Lilly & Company are some of the major players in the immune checkpoint inhibitors market.
Major indications for immune checkpoint inhibitors are melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, head and neck cancer, hodgkin’s lymphoma, primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma, gastric cancer, esophageal cancer, cervical cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma.
There are more than 700 molecules in the clinical development phases for immune checkpoint inhibitors.
- Novartis AG
- Merck (MSD)
- Ono Pharma
- BMS
- Roche
- AstraZeneca
- BeiGene
- Jiangsu Hengrui Pharma
- Innovent Biologics
- J&J
- Regeneron
- Akesobio
- Sanofi
- GSK
- GE Healthcare
- Astellas
- Gilead
- Eli Lilly & Company