Key takeaways

  • Opdualag (nivolumab/relatlimab-rmbw) is a prescription drug approved to treat certain types of melanoma.
  • Opdualag comes as a liquid solution in a single-dose vial. It’s given as an IV infusion by a healthcare professional every 4 weeks.
  • If you experience certain serious side effects, including immune-mediated reactions or serious infusion-related reactions, your doctor may withhold or permanently stop your treatment with Opdualag.

Specifically, Opdualag is used in adults and certain children to treat unresectable or metastatic melanoma.

To learn more about Opdualag’s uses, see the “Uses for Opdualag” section.

Opdualag basics

Opdualag contains the active ingredients nivolumab and relatlimab-rmbw.

Opdualag is a biologic medication. A biologic is made from parts of living organisms. It’s available only as a brand-name drug. It isn’t available in a biosimilar form.

Biosimilars are like generic drugs. Just as generic drugs can be an alternative to brand-name medications, biosimilars are an effective alternative to biologics.

Biosimilars will have the same active ingredient core name as the brand-name drug, but with unique suffixes. This is why “-abcd” appears at the end of the name of the active ingredient. This is to show it’s distinct from biosimilars that may be created in the future.

Opdualag is used to treat unresectable or metastatic melanoma in adults and in children ages 12 years and older who weigh at least 40 kilograms (kg). [One kg is about 2.2 pounds (lb).] “Unresectable” means the tumor cannot be completely removed by surgery. Metastatic melanoma occurs when the cancer spreads to other parts of your body.

Melanoma is a certain type of skin cancer. It may cause symptoms such as changes in the way a mole or pigmented area looks. Certain factors can increase your risk of melanoma, such as unusual moles, exposure to sunlight, and other conditions you have.

Like most drugs, Opdualag may cause mild to serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the more common side effects Opdualag may cause, but they don’t include all possible side effects.

Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:

  • your age
  • other health conditions you have
  • other medications you take

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Opdualag. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medications safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking Opdualag and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Mild side effects

Here’s a list of some of the mild side effects that Opdualag can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Opdualag’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Opdualag that have been reported include:

  • musculoskeletal pain
  • fatigue (low energy)
  • skin rash
  • itching
  • diarrhea
  • nausea
  • headache
  • decreased appetitie
  • cough
  • mild infusion-related reactions

Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Opdualag can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from Opdualag, call your doctor right away. If you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects of Opdualag that have been reported include:

Allergic reaction

For some people, Opdualag can cause an allergic reaction.

In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should continue Opdualag treatment.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Opdualag, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

The Opdualag dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors.

The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Form and strength

Opdualag is available as a liquid solution that’s given as an intravenous (IV) infusion (an injection into your vein over a period of time). It comes in one strength of 240 mg of nivolumab and 80 mg of relatlimab per 20 milliliters (mL).

Recommended dosage

Your doctor will prescribe the dosage of Opdualag that’s right for you. Keep reading to learn more.

Dosage for unresectable or metastatic melanoma

For treatment of melanoma, your doctor will likely prescribe 480 mg nivolumab and 160 mg relatlimab given as an IV infusion every 4 weeks.

This dose is the same for adults and children ages 12 years and older who weigh more than 40 kg (about 88 lb).

How it’s given

Your doctor will explain how Opdualag will be given to you. They’ll also explain how much you’ll be given and how often.

Opdualag is available as a liquid solution that’s given as an IV infusion. You’ll receive infusions at a clinic or your doctor’s office.

The infusion lasts for 30 minutes. If you have certain serious reactions during the infusion, your doctor may slow the rate of the infusion, withhold that infusion, or permanently stop Opdualag.

About receiving Opdualag

The following are some common questions about recieving Opdualag.

  • What if I miss a dose of Opdualag? If you miss an appointment to receive an infusion of Opdualag, call your doctor’s office as soon as possible to reschedule.
  • Will I need to use Opdualag long term? Opdualag is typically used as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that it’s safe and effective for your condition, you’ll likely receive it long term.

Opdualag is not known to interact with other medications, herbs, supplements, foods, or alcohol.The manufacturer did not list any interactions in the drug’s prescribing information.

Before starting Opdualag treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also, tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you take. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

If you have questions about interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Whether you have health insurance or not, cost may be a factor when you’re considering Opdualag. What you’ll pay for Opdualag may depend on several things, such as your treatment plan and the pharmacy you use

Here are a few things to consider regarding cost:

  • Comparing pharmacies: The price of Opdualag may vary depending on which pharmacy you use, so it can help to compare prices across pharmacies to find the lowest cost.
  • Savings program: A program called BMS Access Support may be available. For more information and to find out whether you’re eligible for support, call 800-861-0048 or visit the program website.

If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

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The following is important information to consider and discuss with your doctor or pharmacist before taking/using Opdualag.

Pregnancy and Opdualag

Opdualag can cause fetal harm and should not be given during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before receiving this drug. Your doctor may suggest birth control options to use during treatment with Opdualag.

Opdualag and breastfeeding

It’s not known whether Opdualag should be given while breastfeeding. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before receiving this drug.

Before taking Opdualag, discuss your health history with your doctor. Opdualag may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

Note: For more information about the potential negative effects of Opdualag, see the “Side effects of Opdualag” section.

Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. If you’d like to explore an alternative to Opdualag, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that might work well for you.

The following drugs are similar to Opdualag:

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.