Cancer specialists can treat many types of cancer, including melanoma, with medications that stimulate the body’s own immune system. Immunotherapies are effective in fighting metastatic disease, which has spread from the original tumor to other areas. Tebentafusp (KIMMTRAK®) helps shrink tumors and helps patients with advanced uveal melanoma live longer.
Tebentafusp is a type of immunotherapy treatment called a bispecific fusion protein. One part of tebentafusp recognizes a marker called HLA-A*0201 that binds to a specific protein (gp100) that is found in cells that produce melanin, including melanoma. The second part of Tebentafusp recognizes a protein expressed by T cells, which are a type of immune cell. Tebentafusp creates a bridge between melanoma cells and T cells allowing the immune system to attack and kill melanoma cells.
Not all people have the HLA-A*0201 marker that tebentafusp needs to recognize and bind to melanoma cells.However, this marker is the most common one and is found in about 44% of White, 22% Black, 19% Asian/Pacific Islander, and 40% of American Indian/Alaskan people. That’s why your doctor will test you for this marker before prescribing tebentafusp.
Tebentafusp was approved based on results from Immunocore’s Phase 3 IMCgp100-202 clinical trial. In this randomized trial, 378 patients with previously untreated metastatic disease received tebentafusp or a standard of care therapy. Patients receiving tebentafusp demonstrated a 15% increase in overall survival at one year compared to those receiving a standard of care therapy (73% versus 58%).1
In 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Tebentafusp (KIMMTRAK®) for the treatment of adults with unresectable or metastatic uveal melanoma (mUM). These patients include those with:
If you have advanced uveal melanoma, your doctor will test to see if you have the HLA-A*0201 marker before prescribing tebentafusp.
Patients receive Tebentafusp intravenously (into a blood vein).
The goals of using tebentafusp include:
All melanoma treatments, including tebentafusp, have side effects, which can sometimes be serious. Patients should talk with their physician to learn more about the side effects of nivolumab and other melanoma treatment options.
Not all treatments work for all patients, because everyone is different. If you are interested in learning more about tebentafusp, here are some questions you should ask your physicians:
Patient Assistant Programs (PAPs) are designed so that you still have access to the treatments you need, in any financial circumstance. Learn more about the manufacturer’s patient assistance program and other options here.
