Is lpilimumab available in China? Are you covered by medical insurance?

Ipilimumab (Ipilimumab) is an immunotherapy drug used to treat some malignancies, especially malignant melanoma (melanoma) and some other cancer types.

Ipilimumab is not currently available in China, so patients cannot purchase it domestically and can only purchase it through overseas purchase channels. There are only original drugs of Ipilimumab abroad, mainly Turkish original drugs and Bristol-Myers Squibb original drugs. The price of Turkish original drugs is around 12,000 yuan, and the specification is 50mg/10ml; Bristol-Myers Squibb's original drug costs about 11,700 yuan, and its specifications are also 50mg/10ml. The ingredients of the two drugs are the same.

Ipilimumab belongs to the class of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Its main mechanism of action is to enhance the activity of the immune system by inhibiting CTLA-4 (cytotoxicTlymphocyte antigen4). CTLA-4 is a protein that exists on the surface of T lymphocytes and plays a key role in regulating the activity of the immune system. However, in some cases, cancer cells can use CTLA-4 to evade the immune system's attack. Ipilimumab works by preventing CTLA-4 from binding to its ligand, thereby enhancing the activity of T lymphocytes and improving their ability to recognize and attack cancer cells.

Ipilimumab is usually given as an intravenous injection in a hospital or clinic by a professional medical team. The specific dosage and treatment plan will be based on the patient's weight, cancer type and condition.

Before starting treatment, patients need to inform their doctor about all medications, herbs, supplements, and over-the-counter medications they are using because ipilimumab may interact with other medications. The use of ipilimumab may cause some immune-related adverse reactions, such as immune skin inflammation, gastrointestinal problems, thyroid disease, etc. These adverse reactions require prompt monitoring and management.