What Are the Common Immunotherapy Drugs? 6 Types and Examples Explained
Immunotherapy and other immune-related drugs are used to treat cancer, autoimmune diseases, and to prevent organ transplant rejection. Major categories include PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, CTLA-4 inhibitors, immunomodulators, immunosuppressants, targeted biologics, and cytokine-based and cellular therapies.
For readers asking what are the common immunotherapy drugs, it is important to understand that these categories cover a broad range of medicines with different mechanisms and clinical applications.
In this article, DengYueMed reviews the main types of immunotherapy drugs, representative examples, mechanisms of action, and major therapeutic areas to help pharmaceutical industry partners understand developments in immune-related medicines.
1. PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitors
PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors are one of the core classes of cancer immunotherapy drugs. PD-1 is a receptor expressed on the surface of certain immune cells, while PD-L1 is a ligand that binds to it.
Cancer cells can exploit this signaling pathway to suppress T-cell activity. PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors block this interaction and help relieve certain immunosuppressive signals, enabling the immune system to recognize and attack tumor cells.
When exploring what are the common immunotherapy drugs used in oncology, PD-1 and PD-L1 inhibitors are among the main categories to understand.
1.1 Representative PD-1 Inhibitors
- Pembrolizumab: Keytruda is one of the most widely used PD-1 inhibitors globally and is approved for various cancers in multiple countries and regions.
- Nivolumab: Opdivo was one of the earlier PD-1 inhibitors to receive regulatory approval.
- Tislelizumab: Developed in China and approved in multiple countries and regions, reflecting the international progress of China-developed cancer immunotherapies.
- Sintilimab: Developed in China and approved there for specific treatment regimens across multiple cancer types.
- Toripalimab: Developed in China and approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2023 for specific nasopharyngeal carcinoma treatment regimens.[1]
1.2 Representative PD-L1 Inhibitors
- Atezolizumab: Tecentriq was one of the earlier PD-L1 inhibitors to receive regulatory approval.
- Durvalumab: Imfinzi is used in specific treatment settings for certain lung cancers and other malignancies.
2. CTLA-4 Inhibitors
CTLA-4 is an immune checkpoint molecule involved in regulating T-cell activation. CTLA-4 inhibitors block related immunosuppressive signals and enhance T-cell activation under specific conditions.
Compared with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, CTLA-4 inhibitors act at a different stage of T-cell regulation. The two classes may also be combined in selected cancer treatment regimens.
Representative drugs include:
- Ipilimumab: Approved by the U.S. FDA in 2011, it was the first CTLA-4 inhibitor to receive FDA approval. Its initial indication was unresectable or metastatic melanoma.[2]
- Tremelimumab: Imjudo is used in combination with durvalumab in specific hepatocellular carcinoma treatment regimens, illustrating the strategy of targeting both the CTLA-4 and PD-L1 pathways.[3]
3. Immunomodulators
Immunomodulators regulate immune responses by affecting immune cell function, cytokine signaling, or other biological processes.
Some drugs in this category can also directly affect tumor cell growth or survival. Their pharmacological effects therefore extend beyond immune modulation alone.
The answer to what are the common immunotherapy drugs also depends on whether the focus is on immune regulation, direct antitumor activity, or both.
Representative drugs include:
- Lenalidomide: Through a cereblon-related mechanism, lenalidomide modulates immune responses and inhibits tumor cells. It is an important treatment for multiple myeloma and is also used for certain myelodysplastic syndromes.
- Pomalidomide: With a mechanism related to that of lenalidomide, pomalidomide is primarily used to treat relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.
- Telitacicept: Developed in China, this TACI-Fc fusion protein inhibits BLyS/BAFF and APRIL. It received conditional approval in China in 2021 for adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).[4]
4. Immunosuppressants
Immunosuppressants primarily reduce excessive or abnormal immune responses by inhibiting the activity of specific immune cells or related signaling pathways.
These drugs are widely used to prevent organ transplant rejection and to treat certain autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
Representative drugs include:
- Tacrolimus: A calcineurin inhibitor that suppresses T-cell activation. It is one of the commonly used baseline immunosuppressants following solid-organ transplantation, including liver and kidney transplantation.
- Cyclosporine: A classic calcineurin inhibitor with an important historical role in the development of modern immunosuppressive therapy for organ transplantation.
- Mycophenolate mofetil: Often used in combination with other immunosuppressants to prevent organ transplant rejection.
Immunosuppressants primarily reduce immune activity, whereas checkpoint inhibitors aim to release specific inhibitory signals that limit antitumor immune responses.🔍
5. Targeted Biologics for Autoimmune and Inflammatory Diseases
Targeted biologics generally include monoclonal antibodies and other biologically engineered medicines that act on specific cytokines, receptors, or immune signaling pathways.
These medicines can modulate inflammatory responses more selectively and are commonly used to treat rheumatic and immune-mediated diseases, psoriasis, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
For those asking what are the common immunotherapy drugs used for autoimmune conditions, targeted biologics are an important category to consider.
Representative drugs include:
- Adalimumab: A fully human monoclonal antibody targeting tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). It is used for several immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and inflammatory bowel disease.
- Infliximab: A chimeric monoclonal antibody targeting TNF-α. It is an important biologic medicine used to treat Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and certain rheumatic diseases.
- Tocilizumab: A representative biologic targeting the interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R) pathway. It is used for specific indications, including rheumatoid arthritis.
- Secukinumab: Targets interleukin-17A (IL-17A) and is a representative biologic for the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
- Ustekinumab: Targets the p40 subunit shared by interleukin-12 (IL-12) and interleukin-23 (IL-23). It is used for specific indications, including psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease.
6. Cytokines and Cellular Immunotherapy Products
Cytokine-based medicines influence signaling between immune cells to enhance or regulate specific immune responses. Cellular immunotherapies, by contrast, use immune cells that have been isolated, expanded, or genetically modified to exert therapeutic effects.
These two categories differ substantially in product form and manufacturing requirements.
Representative products include:
- Interferon alfa: One of the earlier cytokine-based medicines to enter clinical use for immune modulation.
- Aldesleukin: Recombinant interleukin-2 (IL-2), which stimulates the activity of certain immune cells. It is a representative example of early cytokine-based approaches to enhancing antitumor immune responses.
- Relmacabtagene autoleucel: Developed in China, this CD19-targeted chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy[5] is used for specific hematological malignancies.
- Equecabtagene autoleucel: Developed in China, this B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-targeted CAR-T cell therapy is used in specific treatment settings for multiple myeloma.
Summary Table: Common Immunotherapy Drugs and Their Applications
| Drug category | Representative drugs | Targets or mechanisms of action | Major therapeutic areas |
|---|---|---|---|
| PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors | Pembrolizumab, tislelizumab, sintilimab, atezolizumab | Block PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint signaling | Various cancers |
| CTLA-4 inhibitors | Ipilimumab, tremelimumab | Block CTLA-4-mediated immune regulation | Selected cancers |
| Immunomodulators | Lenalidomide, pomalidomide, telitacicept | Modulate immune cell function or related signaling pathways | Multiple myeloma, systemic lupus erythematosus, and other specific conditions |
| Immunosuppressants | Tacrolimus, cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil | Inhibit T-cell activation or lymphocyte proliferation | Organ transplantation and certain immune-related diseases |
| Targeted biologics | Adalimumab, tocilizumab, secukinumab, ustekinumab | Target TNF, IL-6R, IL-17A, or IL-12/IL-23 pathways | Autoimmune and inflammatory diseases |
| Cytokines and cellular immunotherapies | Interferon alfa, aldesleukin, relmacabtagene autoleucel, equecabtagene autoleucel | Modulate immune signaling or use engineered immune cells to recognize target cells | Selected cancers and other approved indications |
Conclusion
From cancer immune checkpoint inhibitors to targeted biologics for autoimmune diseases and CAR-T cell therapies, continued advances in immune-related medicines are expanding treatment options across different disease areas.
China-developed PD-1 inhibitors, immunomodulatory medicines, and CAR-T products also demonstrate ongoing progress in China’s innovative pharmaceutical sector.
Understanding what are the common immunotherapy drugs can help readers distinguish their mechanisms, therapeutic applications, and roles within the broader pharmaceutical landscape.
Global pharmaceutical distributor DengYueMed follows advances in immune-related drugs, China-developed innovative medicines, and Chinese pharmacy resources to keep global industry partners informed about China’s pharmaceutical landscape and immunotherapy developments.
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FAQ about What Are the Common Immunotherapy Drugs
What Are the Common Immunotherapy Drugs?
Common examples include pembrolizumab (Keytruda), nivolumab (Opdivo), atezolizumab (Tecentriq), ipilimumab, lenalidomide, tacrolimus, adalimumab, and CAR-T therapies such as relmacabtagene autoleucel.
What Are the Main Types of Immunotherapy Drugs Used for Cancer?
Cancer immunotherapy drugs include PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, CTLA-4 inhibitors, cytokine-based therapies, and CAR-T cell therapies, depending on the cancer type and treatment setting.
What Is the Difference Between PD-1 and PD-L1 Inhibitors?
PD-1 inhibitors target the PD-1 receptor on immune cells, while PD-L1 inhibitors target its ligand, helping restore antitumor immune responses through different points in the same pathway.
Are Immunosuppressants and Immunotherapy Drugs the Same?
Not exactly; immunosuppressants reduce immune activity, while many cancer immunotherapies aim to enhance antitumor immune responses or modify specific immune pathways.
Which Immunotherapy Drugs Are Used for Autoimmune Diseases?
Drugs such as adalimumab, infliximab, tocilizumab, and secukinumab are used for certain autoimmune or inflammatory diseases, depending on the condition and approved indication.
References
[1] https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resources-information-approved-drugs/fda-approves-toripalimab-tpzi-nasopharyngeal-carcinoma
[2] https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/opdlisting/oopd/detailedIndex.cfm?cfgridkey=177703
[3] https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/nda/2023/761270Orig1s000lbl.pdf
[4] https://www.nmpa.gov.cn/zhuanti/cxylqx/cxypxx/20210312165618199.html
[5] https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/research/car-t-cells
