Treatments
TL;DR: 14 FDA-approved drugs have labels that mention bladder cancer in their indications. Grouped below by mechanism of action. This list gives you the vocabulary — your oncologist chooses a regimen based on your specific subtype, stage, biomarkers, and prior therapies.
Source: OpenFDA drug label API · last checked
Cost transparency
Drugs below have published Medicare Part B or Part D spending figures — what the federal government actually paid per beneficiary in 2023.
Immunotherapy (PD-1 inhibitor)
Immunotherapy (PD-1 inhibitor)
Immunotherapy (PD-L1 inhibitor)
Figures are average Medicare spending per beneficiary. Out-of-pocket varies by insurance and manufacturer assistance. See all drug costs →
Drugs that activate or modify the immune system to attack cancer cells. Checkpoint inhibitors (targeting PD-1, PD-L1, CTLA-4) are the most common.
Programmed Death Ligand-1 Blocker [EPC] · Programmed Death Ligand-1 Antagonists [MoA]
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE BAVENCIO is a programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) blocking antibody indicated for: Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC) Adults and pediatric patients 12 years and older with metastatic MCC. ( 1.1 , 14.1 ) Urothelial Carcinoma (…
Programmed Death Ligand-1 Blocker [EPC] · Programmed Death Ligand-1 Antagonists [MoA]
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE IMFINZI is a programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) blocking antibody indicated: • in combination with platinum-containing chemotherapy as neoadjuvant treatment, followed by IMFINZI continued as a single agent as adjuvant…
Programmed Death Receptor-1 Blocking Antibody [EPC] · Programmed Death Receptor-1-directed Antibody Interactions [MoA]
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE OPDIVO is a programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1)-blocking antibody indicated for the treatment of: Melanoma • adult and pediatric (12 years and older) patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma, as a single agen…
Programmed Death Receptor-1 Blocking Antibody [EPC] · Endoglycosidase [EPC]
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE OPDIVO QVANTIG is a combination of nivolumab, a programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1)-blocking antibody, and hyaluronidase, an endoglycosidase, indicated for the treatment of: Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) • adult patients…
Programmed Death Receptor-1 Blocking Antibody [EPC] · Programmed Death Receptor-1-directed Antibody Interactions [MoA]
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE KEYTRUDA is a programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1)-blocking antibody indicated: Melanoma for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma. ( 1.1 ) for the adjuvant treatment of adult and pediatric…
Endoglycosidase [EPC] · Programmed Death Receptor-1 Blocking Antibody [EPC]
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE KEYTRUDA QLEX is a combination of pembrolizumab, a programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1)-blocking antibody, and berahyaluronidase alfa, an endoglycosidase, indicated: Melanoma for the treatment of adult patients with un…
Monoclonal antibodies and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) that bind specific proteins on cancer cells.
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE PADCEV ® , in combination with pembrolizumab or pembrolizumab and berahyaluronidase alfa-pmph, as neoadjuvant treatment and then continued after cystectomy as adjuvant treatment, is indicated for the treatment of adu…
Small-molecule drugs taken by mouth that block specific molecular pathways driving cancer growth (kinases, PARP, CDK4/6, etc.).
Kinase Inhibitor [EPC] · Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitors [MoA]
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE BALVERSA is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) with susceptible FGFR3 genetic alterations whose disease has progressed on or after at least on…
Cytotoxic drugs that kill rapidly dividing cells. Includes platinums, taxanes, antimetabolites, alkylators, topoisomerase inhibitors, and anthracyclines.
Platinum-based Drug [EPC]
From the FDA label: INDICATIONS AND USAGE Cisplatin Injection is indicated as therapy to be employed as follows: Metastatic Testicular Tumors In established combination therapy with other approved chemotherapeutic agents in patients with metastatic testicular
Nucleoside Metabolic Inhibitor [EPC] · Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors [MoA]
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE INLEXZO is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with carcinoma in situ (CIS), with or without papillary tumors. IN…
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE ZUSDURI™ is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with recurrent low-grade intermediate-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (LG-IR-NMIBC). ZUSDURI is an alkylating drug indicated for the treatment of adul…
Drugs whose pharmacologic class was not automatically classified into the groups above. Check the FDA label for mechanism details.
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Cysview is indicated for use in the cystoscopic detection of carcinoma of the bladder, including carcinoma in situ (CIS), among patients suspected or known to have lesion(s) on the basis of a prior cystoscopy, or in
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE ADSTILADRIN ® is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with high-risk Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-unresponsive non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC) with carcinoma in situ (CIS) with or without papill…
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE ANKTIVA in combination with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with BCG-unresponsive nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with carcinoma in situ (CIS) with or without…
Disease foundations below have active funds covering bladder cancer medications. Manufacturer patient-assistance programs are listed on each drug's cost page.
copay, premium, and deductible assistance for insured patients; fund availability varies by disease
https://www.healthwellfoundation.org/disease-funds/Funds open and close based on availability; check disease-funds page for current status
copay assistance for 20+ cancer types via disease-specific funds
https://www.panfoundation.org/find-disease-fund/Merging with Patient Advocate Foundation; unified 'TotalAssist' program launches 2026-07-01
direct copay / coinsurance assistance via disease-specific funds
https://copays.org/Merging with PAN Foundation; launching 'TotalAssist' 2026-07-01
limited financial assistance for transportation, home care, child care, and treatment-related costs
https://www.cancercare.org/financialcase management, insurance appeals, legal counseling for patients with chronic or life-threatening illness
https://www.patientadvocate.org/Merging with PAN Foundation; launching 'TotalAssist' 2026-07-01
Trials test new therapies before they are FDA-approved. Often a way to access tomorrow's drugs today.
Back to Bladder Cancer hub →Stats, second opinions, NCI cancer centers, oncologists.
Understand biomarkers →Most targeted therapies require biomarker testing. Here's what you need to know.
Read your pathology report →Which drugs apply to you depends on what's in your pathology.