Hyaluronidase-Nvhy / Nivolumab
Nivolumab and hyaluronidase-nvhy is a combination immunotherapy used to treat several cancers, including melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, renal cell carcinoma, colorectal cancer, urothelial carcinoma, head and neck cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, esophageal cancer, and gastric cancers.
🧬 Where this information comes from Click to expand
The clinical label records used on this page are FDA-filed Structured Product Labeling (SPL) retrieved through openFDA. We identified 1 clinical label set within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, strengths, and NDC product-record counts are built separately from matching FDA National Drug Code Directory records. The linked DailyMed document is a representative official source for verification, not the page’s only clinical source. View the linked label on DailyMed →
📖 Hyaluronidase-Nvhy / Nivolumab: Patient Information Guide
A plain-language walkthrough of Hyaluronidase-Nvhy / Nivolumab — what it treats, how it works, how it’s taken, side effects, warnings and interactions. Tap any section to expand it.
🎯What it's used for▾
Nivolumab and hyaluronidase-nvhy (brand: Opdivo Qvantig) is approved for a broad range of cancers. All uses below are for Opdivo Qvantig given by subcutaneous injection.
- Renal cell carcinoma (RCC): Opdivo Qvantig is used as a first-line monotherapy following initial IV nivolumab plus ipilimumab combination therapy (intermediate or poor risk, advanced RCC); as a first-line treatment combined with cabozantinib for advanced RCC; and as monotherapy for advanced RCC after prior anti-angiogenic therapy.
- Melanoma: Opdivo Qvantig treats unresectable or metastatic melanoma in adults and in children 12+ weighing ≥30 kg — as monotherapy or following IV nivolumab plus ipilimumab combination therapy. It is also used as adjuvant (post-surgery preventive) treatment for completely resected Stage IIB, IIC, III, or IV melanoma.
- Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): Opdivo Qvantig is used with platinum-doublet chemotherapy as neoadjuvant (pre-surgery) treatment for resectable NSCLC; as neoadjuvant treatment followed by Opdivo Qvantig monotherapy as adjuvant treatment (for tumors with no known EGFR or ALK mutations); and as monotherapy for metastatic NSCLC after platinum-based chemotherapy.
- Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN): Opdivo Qvantig treats recurrent or metastatic SCCHN after progression on platinum-based therapy.
- Urothelial carcinoma (UC): Opdivo Qvantig is used as adjuvant treatment after radical resection for high-risk UC; as first-line treatment with cisplatin and gemcitabine for unresectable or metastatic UC; and as monotherapy for locally advanced or metastatic UC after platinum-containing chemotherapy.
- Colorectal cancer (CRC): Opdivo Qvantig treats MSI-H or dMMR unresectable or metastatic CRC (in adults and children 12+ weighing ≥30 kg) following IV nivolumab plus ipilimumab combination therapy, or after prior chemotherapy with fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan.
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, liver cancer): Opdivo Qvantig is used as first-line monotherapy for unresectable or metastatic HCC following IV nivolumab plus ipilimumab therapy, and for patients previously treated with sorafenib following that same initial combination.
- Esophageal cancer: Opdivo Qvantig is used as adjuvant treatment for completely resected esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer with residual disease after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy; as first-line treatment in combination with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-based chemotherapy for unresectable advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) with PD-L1 expression ≥1; and as monotherapy for unresectable advanced, recurrent, or metastatic ESCC after prior chemotherapy.
- Gastric cancer, gastroesophageal junction cancer, and esophageal adenocarcinoma: Opdivo Qvantig is used in combination with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy for advanced or metastatic disease with PD-L1 expression ≥1.
⚙️How it works▾
Nivolumab is a monoclonal antibody that locks onto a receptor called PD-1 on immune T cells. In some cancers, tumor cells send signals through this receptor to essentially switch off the immune system's ability to recognize and attack them. By blocking PD-1, nivolumab removes this brake on the immune response and lets T cells detect and fight the cancer. Hyaluronidase temporarily breaks down a gel-like substance (hyaluronan) under the skin, opening up the tissue so that nivolumab can be absorbed after a subcutaneous injection rather than needing to go directly into a vein. The tissue returns to normal within 24 to 48 hours.
💊How it's taken▾
Opdivo Qvantig is given as a subcutaneous injection (under the skin of the abdomen or thigh) over 3 to 5 minutes by a healthcare professional. It is not for intravenous use and must not be self-administered at home. Depending on the cancer type and treatment regimen, it is given every 2 weeks, every 3 weeks, or every 4 weeks. When used in combination with cabozantinib, that oral pill is taken without food. Always follow your prescriber's instructions for your specific schedule — do not adjust timing without speaking to your care team first.
🤒Side effects — in detail▾
The most commonly reported side effects with Opdivo Qvantig include:
- Musculoskeletal pain (muscle and joint aches)
- Fatigue
- Itching (pruritus)
- Skin rash
- Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
- Diarrhea
- Cough
- Abdominal pain
- Injection site reactions
- Nausea
More serious immune-related reactions — including lung, liver, colon, and kidney inflammation — can occur at any time during or even after treatment. Report any new or unusual symptoms to your care team right away; catching these early makes them easier to treat.
⚠️Warnings & precautions▾
- Immune-mediated reactions: This is the biggest risk. Because Opdivo Qvantig activates the immune system, it can cause the body to attack its own organs — lungs, liver, colon, kidneys, hormone glands, skin, and more. These reactions can be severe or fatal. They can happen during treatment or after it stops. Monitor for new symptoms and tell your doctor immediately if anything feels off.
- Stem cell transplant complications: Serious and potentially fatal complications have occurred in patients who received a donor stem cell transplant (allogeneic HSCT) before or after treatment with a PD-1 blocking antibody. Your care team needs to know your full history.
- Embryo-fetal toxicity: Opdivo Qvantig can cause serious harm to an unborn baby, including miscarriage and infant death. Effective contraception is required during treatment and for 5 months afterward.
- Multiple myeloma caution: Using PD-1 blocking antibodies together with a thalidomide analogue and dexamethasone for multiple myeloma is not recommended outside of a controlled clinical trial.
- Liver toxicity with cabozantinib: The combination of nivolumab and cabozantinib increases the risk of serious liver enzyme elevations compared to nivolumab alone. More frequent liver monitoring is required.
🔀What it interacts with▾
Always tell your full care team about every medication you take. Key interactions to be aware of with Opdivo Qvantig include:
- Cabozantinib: When combined, the risk of serious liver toxicity (elevated liver enzymes) is significantly higher — your doctors will monitor your liver function more often.
- Corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone): These are commonly used to treat immune-mediated side effects caused by Opdivo Qvantig; their use needs to be directed by your medical team.
- Other immunosuppressants: May be needed alongside corticosteroids for severe immune reactions, but only under medical supervision.
- Thalidomide analogues plus dexamethasone: Combining PD-1 blocking antibodies with this regimen for multiple myeloma is not recommended outside of clinical trials due to safety concerns.
This is not a complete list of interactions. Always talk with your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
📋Before taking it▾
- Pregnancy: This drug can cause fetal harm, including miscarriage and infant death. Tell your doctor immediately if you are pregnant or become pregnant. A pregnancy test is required before starting treatment.
- Contraception: Women who can become pregnant must use effective contraception during treatment and for 5 months after the last dose.
- Breastfeeding: Do not breastfeed during treatment or for 5 months after the last dose, as the drug may harm a nursing infant.
- Prior stem cell transplant: Tell your doctor if you have ever had or are planning an allogeneic (donor) stem cell transplant — serious complications are possible.
- Autoimmune conditions: Existing autoimmune conditions may increase the risk of immune-related side effects — discuss your full medical history with your doctor.
- Children: Opdivo Qvantig is approved for patients 12 years and older weighing at least 30 kg for specific cancers (melanoma and MSI-H or dMMR colorectal cancer). It has not been established for children under 12 or for other indications in pediatric patients.
- Older adults: Adults 65 and older were included in clinical studies with no overall difference in safety or effectiveness compared to younger patients, though close monitoring is still important.
📡Pharmacodynamics — effects in the body▾
The exposure-response relationship and the full time course of pharmacodynamic effects of Opdivo Qvantig have not been fully characterized, according to the prescribing information.
🔬Pharmacokinetics — how your body processes it▾
After subcutaneous injection, nivolumab reaches peak blood concentrations in about 6 days, and steady-state levels are achieved by around 16 weeks of treatment. The drug's bioavailability (how much reaches the bloodstream) is approximately 74%. Nivolumab has a half-life of about 25 days, meaning it stays in the body for a prolonged period. The drug is gradually cleared by the body over time, and clearance slows slightly with continued treatment — though this change is not considered clinically meaningful. Body weight, sex, kidney function, and performance status do not significantly affect how the body processes nivolumab.
📦How to store it▾
Store OPDIVO QVANTIG vials in a refrigerator at 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F) in the original carton to protect from light. Do not freeze or shake.
📄 Written from Hyaluronidase-Nvhy / Nivolumab’s FDA-approved label information, summarized in plain language with AI, and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. Every point is grounded in that labeling — nothing is invented. How we use AI →
🩺 Pharmacist Counseling Corner
Quick, plain-English answers to the questions patients ask most about Hyaluronidase-Nvhy / Nivolumab — the kind of thing our pharmacy team would talk through with you at the counter.
Why am I getting a shot under the skin instead of an IV infusion like I've heard about with nivolumab? ▾
What kinds of side effects should I expect, and which ones should make me call my doctor right away? ▾
Is it safe to take this medication if I'm pregnant or trying to get pregnant? ▾
I'm also taking cabozantinib. Is there anything extra I should watch out for? ▾
How long will I need to be on this treatment? ▾
Can my child receive Opdivo Qvantig? ▾
Is Hyaluronidase-Nvhy / Nivolumab available over the counter? ▾
When was Hyaluronidase-Nvhy / Nivolumab first available? ▾
💬 Answers drafted from Hyaluronidase-Nvhy / Nivolumab’s FDA-approved label information, summarized in plain language with AI, and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. Grounded in that labeling — nothing is made up. How we use AI →
🧰 Keep exploring
💊 How Hyaluronidase-Nvhy / Nivolumab comes
Hyaluronidase-Nvhy / Nivolumab is available in 1 form. Different forms and brands can have different approved uses, doses, schedules, and directions. Follow the instructions for your exact product, and do not switch forms without guidance from your prescriber or pharmacist.
Injection
How this form is used
- Opdivo Qvantig is used to treat a wide range of cancers including melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer, head and neck cancer, urothelial carcinoma, colorectal cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, and gastroesophageal junction cancer
- Opdivo Qvantig may be used alone or in combination with other agents such as cabozantinib, cisplatin, gemcitabine, or fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-based chemotherapy depending on the cancer type
- Opdivo Qvantig is approved for certain uses in pediatric patients 12 years and older weighing at least 30 kg, including melanoma and MSI-H or dMMR colorectal cancer
- Opdivo Qvantig is not indicated in combination with ipilimumab for any of its approved uses
- Opdivo Qvantig is for subcutaneous use only — injected under the skin of the abdomen or thigh by a healthcare professional; it must not be given intravenously
- Opdivo Qvantig is administered as an injection over 3 to 5 minutes, given every 2, 3, or 4 weeks depending on the indication and regimen
- Opdivo Qvantig must be administered by a healthcare professional only — it is not for self-injection at home
- Adult patients currently receiving intravenous nivolumab as a single agent or in combination with chemotherapy or cabozantinib may switch to Opdivo Qvantig at their next scheduled dose
📊 Hyaluronidase-Nvhy / Nivolumab across the U.S. market
How Hyaluronidase-Nvhy / Nivolumab appears in the FDA’s National Drug Code Directory — including its dosage forms, strengths, brand names, manufacturers, and FDA-listed product records. These are directory records, not sales or prescription volume.
📈 How widely Hyaluronidase-Nvhy / Nivolumab is used
A general measure of how commonly Hyaluronidase-Nvhy / Nivolumab is prescribed, based on Medicaid — one of the largest public drug programs. The figure below is prescriptions filled in Q1–Q4 2025, summed across every form and brand of the drug.
Think of this as a proxy for how widely Hyaluronidase-Nvhy / Nivolumab is used, drawn from freely available public data. Medicaid is just one program — these numbers don’t include Medicare, other government coverage, or commercial and cash-pay prescriptions, so real-world use is higher than what’s shown here.
How commonly is Hyaluronidase-Nvhy / Nivolumab prescribed? Of the 1,596 medications we measure, Hyaluronidase-Nvhy / Nivolumab ranks #1,469 by Medicaid prescriptions — more than 8% of them.
Utilization by Hyaluronidase-Nvhy / Nivolumab product
Pick a product to see its own Medicaid numbers. Each chip is one clinical product — a specific strength & dosage form as defined by RxNorm — with brand-name and generic versions combined.
5 ML hyaluronidase-nvhy 2000 UNT/ML / nivolumab-nvhy 120 MG/ML Injection
Summed across the 1 of 1 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 2700798
Shares are of the Medicaid prescriptions shown here. Product grouping follows RxNorm (the National Library of Medicine’s drug terminology), so “one product” means one strength & dosage form regardless of manufacturer. Dollar figures are gross Medicaid reimbursement before mandatory rebates — rebates (often large, especially for brand-name drugs) are confidential, so actual net cost to Medicaid is lower than shown.
Source: Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data (CMS), aggregated by generic ingredient — summed across every NDC (all brands, strengths, salt forms and dosage forms) of Hyaluronidase-Nvhy / Nivolumab, and across all states and both fee-for-service and managed-care claims. A general popularity signal; it excludes Medicare, commercial insurance and cash prescriptions, so it is not total U.S. use. Based on the 1 of 1 listed Hyaluronidase-Nvhy / Nivolumab NDCs with Medicaid activity.
🔍 Compare Hyaluronidase-Nvhy / Nivolumab products
A representative set of FDA-listed product records for Hyaluronidase-Nvhy / Nivolumab — across manufacturers, strengths, and dosage forms, grouped by form with each product’s manufacturer and how the FDA approved it. The same medicine may be made and packaged by different companies, so a single drug can have many directory entries. (It’s also why a refill can look different — a new shape, color, or box — even though it contains the same medication.)
| Strength | Route | Manufacturer / Labeler | Category ⓘ | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 💊Injection | ||||
| NIVOLUMAB 120 mg/mL; HYALURONIDASE (HUMAN RECOMBINANT) 2000 U/mL | Subcutaneous | E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C. × 2 listings | BLA | View NDC → |
| NIVOLUMAB 2000 U/mL; HYALURONIDASE (HUMAN RECOMBINANT) 120 mg/mL | Subcutaneous | E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C. × 2 listings | BLA | View NDC → |
Showing 4 of 4 products — FDA National Drug Code Directory. See every product, package size and price: browse all 4 Hyaluronidase-Nvhy / Nivolumab NDCs →
📈 What people report — real-world data (FDA FAERS)
After a medicine reaches the market, patients, doctors and drugmakers can send the FDA reports of problems they think may be linked to it. Here’s what’s been reported for Hyaluronidase-Nvhy / Nivolumab — a signal of what to watch for, not proof the drug caused it.
Source: openFDA, from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). These are voluntary reports — they don’t prove the drug caused the effect, and counts reflect how often something was reported, not how often it actually happens. Reports also often name the very problem the medicine is taken for — a common reason to file one is that the drug didn’t help — so for a pain reliever you may see “pain” high on the list; that points to why the report was filed, not to the drug causing the symptom. This counts every report that lists Hyaluronidase-Nvhy / Nivolumab in any role, so the total runs higher than the FDA’s official dashboard, which counts only cases where the drug is the suspect. For the authoritative figures, see the FDA FAERS Public Dashboard. Always talk to your pharmacist or doctor.
🏛️ The road to your pharmacy
How Hyaluronidase-Nvhy / Nivolumab went from FDA review to the pharmacy shelf — the key milestones in its regulatory journey.
Source: Drugs@FDA.
🚨 Recall history
A recall is when a specific batch of a medicine is pulled from the market — usually a manufacturing issue, not a problem with the drug itself. Class I is most serious, Class III least.
Source: openFDA drug enforcement (recall) reports.
RxNorm Concept Web — From Ingredient to Every Form and Strength
This page starts with one exact multiple-ingredient concept (MIN). The branches below show its dose-form concepts (SCDF), then the available clinical drug and strength concepts (SCD). A product with a different ingredient combination belongs on a different page.
RxCUI 2700793 1 dose form · 2 strengths
-
Dose form (SCDF) Injection RxCUI 2700795In current FDA listingsClinical drug / strength (SCD) 2.5 ML hyaluronidase-nvhy 2000 UNT/ML / nivolumab-nvhy 120 MG/MLRxCUI 27284915 ML hyaluronidase-nvhy 2000 UNT/ML / nivolumab-nvhy 120 MG/MLRxCUI 2700798
Look up RxCUI 2700793 in the RxCUI Atlas →
RxNorm is the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s normalized drug vocabulary. Its concept hierarchy can include forms that are not currently marketed; the status on each branch compares that concept with current FDA listings. RxCUIs identify vocabulary concepts, not individual packages or manufacturers.
📦 Supply & shortage status
Whether Hyaluronidase-Nvhy / Nivolumab is in short supply in the U.S. right now, plus any shortage history the FDA has on record. A shortage usually reflects a manufacturing or demand issue — not a safety problem with the drug.
Source: openFDA, from the FDA Drug Shortages database.
🏷️ Sold under these brand names
🏭 Manufacturers & labelers
RxNorm drug class
Hyaluronidase-Nvhy / Nivolumab belongs to the Programmed Death Receptor-1 Blocking Antibody class.
Classified by RxNorm RxClass — the U.S. National Library of Medicine's standardized drug-classification service (Established Pharmacologic Class from the FDA, the ATC drug family from the WHO, and mechanism of action). Reference only, not medical advice.
🔬 Where this comes from
Core label, product, RxNorm, safety, and utilization data on this page come from the sources identified below. AI-written, editorial, and licensed sections are labeled separately.
How we combine label and product data
HelloPharmacist combines public FDA and NLM records; we don’t author the underlying clinical facts. We identified 1 FDA-filed SPL label set within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. The representative label is the starting point for the displayed reference monograph; the 12 largest stored in-scope SPL records, which may include that representative, are compared section by section, and the longest available version of each section is retained. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, product-listed strengths, and product-record counts are aggregated separately from ingredient-matched FDA NDC Directory records; package records listed above are associated with the linked SPL; and the normalized concept hierarchy comes from NLM RxNorm.
For canonical ingredient pages, bounded product-attributed indication and administration excerpts may be added to the AI evidence, and the generator is instructed to preserve available product, brand, route, and form qualifiers instead of treating one label as universal. Where a section is identified as AI-written, its plain-language text is generated from bounded label evidence. New draft drug pages remain in the admin review queue before first publication. E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C. is the representative DailyMed label linked for verification and dates; it is not the sole source used for the page.
This is general education, not medical advice — always consult your doctor or pharmacist about your medications and any medical condition. For the exact wording of the linked representative label, view that label on DailyMed; some displayed composite sections may come from other in-scope SPL labels. Learn how we use AI and our data sources & update cadence.