How does Loqtorzi work for nasopharyngeal carcinoma?

Loqtorzi (toripalimab) is a programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) blocking antibody that works by binding to the PD-1 receptor that exists on the outside of some cancer cells. PD-1 prevents our immune system from attacking the cancerous cells, but once Loqtorzi has bound to PD-1, the immune system is no longer inhibited, and immune system components, such as T cells, can kill the cell. Loqtorzi is also thought to lower the number of PD-1 receptors on the outside of the cancer cells by causing the PD-1 receptor to be absorbed inside the cancer cells.

Loqtorzi belongs to the class of medicines called Checkpoint Inhibitors and is given by intravenous infusion. It has been FDA-approved to treat:

• metastatic or recurrent, locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in combination with cisplatin and gemcitabine as first-line treatment
• NPC that has returned and cannot be removed with surgery or has spread (metastatic), despite prior treatment with a platinum-containing chemotherapy regimen.

Is Loqtorzi chemotherapy?

Loqtorzi works with the immune system to help fight cancer and is considered an immunotherapy treatment, not chemotherapy.