Study Objective:
Ipilimumab, pembrolizumab, and nivolumab are checkpoint inhibitors (
CPIs
) that activate T‐cell–mediated immune response.
CPI
can provide durable benefits to some cancer patients with melanoma, renal cell cancer, non–small cell lung cancer, or a growing list of other cancers. However,
CPI
treatment is also associated with adverse immune‐mediated reactions (
IMRs
) that can be life‐threatening. This pharmacovigilance analysis aims to characterize
IMR
signals in relation to
CPI
treatment.
Design:Retrospective pharmacovigilance disproportionality analysis.
Data Source:U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Adverse Event Reporting System (
FAERS
).
Measurements and Main Results:
Adverse event reports submitted to
FAERS
between 2011 and 2015 were analyzed.
CPIs
were identified by generic names, and
IMRs
were identified by Med
DRA
Preferred Terms. Empirical Bayes geometric means with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (
EB
05‐
EB
95) were calculated as
CPI
‐
IMR
association metrics. Signals were defined as metrics with
EB
05 ≥ 2.0. Overall, 1,018
IMR
events were submitted for
CPIs
, corresponding to 76% for ipilimumab, 15% for nivolumab, and 9% for pembrolizumab. The period of data collection precluded data on the most recently approved
CPI
agents.
IMRs
consisted of 51% colitis, 16% endocrinopathies, 12% pneumonitis, 11% hepatitis, 4% infusion‐related reactions, 3% nephritis, and 3% other
IMRs
. Colitis contributed to 63% and 41% of
IMRs
for ipilimumab and nivolumab, respectively. Pneumonitis and hepatitis contributed to a majority of
IMRs
for pembrolizumab, for which nephritis and infusion‐related reactions were not reported. Signals of
IMRs
were detected for
CPIs
as a class (
EB
05 = 12.4) and individual agents: ipilimumab (
EB
05 = 13.2), nivolumab (
EB
05 = 15.0), and pembrolizumab (
EB
05 = 7.3). Colitis and pneumonitis had the strongest signals for
CPIs
(
EB
05 = 45.6 and
EB
05 = 17.6, respectively). Colitis was the strongest signal for ipilimumab (
EB
05 = 54.2), and pneumonitis was the strongest signal for nivolumab (
EB
05 = 48.0) and pembrolizumab (
EB
05 = 21.8).
Conclusion:
Cancer immunotherapy with
CPIs
is associated with a multitude of
IMRs
, especially colitis and pneumonitis. Individual
CPIs
had variable
IMR
signals, and pharmacoepidemiologic studies are required to evaluate the identified signals.