Immunotherapy drugs, known as immune checkpoint inhibitors, could revolutionize cancer treatment and become a major drug market. Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck & Co. and Roche are among the firms developing such drugs, which use the immune system to target tumor cells. Yervoy, made by Bristol-Myers, the market leader, is approved for treating melanoma, but shows potential for treating other cancers, indicating the applicability of such drugs to multiple cancer types. According to Leerink Swan, 50% of cancer treatments in the next decade could involve immunotherapy agents. The biggest market for the agents would be using them in conjunction with other treatments because many patients do not respond to the agents on their own. However, such an approach would drive up costs.

Source: Wall Street Journal