opdivo or keytruda

Same drug, different drug company basically. Most people who get opdivo get the yervoy/opdivo combo, which has more side effects since yervoy is involved but is also more effective. 

Opdivo infusions are every two weeks and Keytruda infusions are every three weeks.  For me, it made more sense to have the extra week in between treatments.  That is the only difference I am aware of for my situation.

Hm,

don't know the difference between the drugs, but since keytruda worked for my father, my vote goes to the latter… no side effects besides some vitiligo…

good luck with whatever you choose!

Patrisa

As I understand it they effectively do the same thing, but use a different molecule to get the job done.

I'm not aware of any studies compairing the two directly against each another, and given the're made by different drug companies, I'm not sure that would happen anytime soon. Any evidence presented on this forum that does not compare them directly would likely be skewed. I would caution you to review the data / analysis closely (if that were the case) before making any decision.

If I were you, I would base the decision off of other factors (i.e. dosing schedules).  

There are others on this forum far more knowledgable so take my perspective for what it's worth. 🙂

I'll have my 3rd infusion of Keytruda on 7-31-17, and I'm waiting for the side effect shoe to drop at some point.  Having been through the Cisplatin, Textera, 5-FU  chemo plan and 35 rounds of radiation for Tonsil Cancer eight years ago, I just can't believe the lack of side effects for this dermaplastic Melanoma at the rear of my right jaw.  Maybe it's a cumulative thing…..I don't know.  But so far only a little fatigue.

I'm not aware of any studies regarding melanoma and the two drugs however there seems to be some data that Keytruda works better for lung cancer patients over Opdivo.  That being said I may just not be up to date on the studies.  I've had both the Yervoy/Opdivo combo and Opdivo only infusions.  My experience although not a walk in the park hasn't really been that bad.  I think the side effects vary so much from person to person that it is very difficult to say which one will be better for you.  I've gone from having over twenty tumors to just two. I'm sure there are many with similar success with Keytruda.  There may not be an answer to this question at this time.  Good wishes to you.

Jennifer

They are both anti-PD1 drugs, made by different drug companies, Opdivo was made first. The side effects are the same, but of course what and how many side effects depends on each person individually. They have the same response rate. Only difference would be infusion schedule, with Opdivo it is every other week and with Keytruda it is every 3 weeks. Most would choose every 3 weeks.. since every other week sure does get old after a while. But, that just comes down to your own personal schedule and probably how far you have to drive to get to the infusions. Takes me about an hour to get to where I go for infusions, so I have to save half a day for the whole deal: drive there, blood labs, doctor visit, infusion, drive home. I'm used to going every other week at this point, but I will be pretty darn happy when I can stop driving there this often.