Skip to main content
An official website of the United States government

nivolumab

View Patient Information
A fully human immunoglobulin (Ig) G4 monoclonal antibody directed against the negative immunoregulatory human cell surface receptor programmed death-1 (PD-1, PCD-1) with immune checkpoint inhibitory and antineoplastic activities. Upon administration, nivolumab binds to and blocks the activation of PD-1, an immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF) transmembrane protein, by its ligands programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1), which is overexpressed on certain cancer cells, and programmed cell death ligand 2 (PD-L2), which is primarily expressed on antigen-presenting cells (APCs). This results in the activation of T cells and cell-mediated immune responses against tumor cells. Activated PD-1 negatively regulates T-cell activation and plays a key role in tumor evasion from host immunity.
Synonym:nivolumab biosimilar ABP 206
nivolumab biosimilar BCD-263
nivolumab biosimilar CMAB819
US brand name:Opdivo
Abbreviation:NIVO
Code name:ABP 206
BMS-936558
CMAB819
MDX-1106
ONO-4538
Search NCI's Drug Dictionary