Treatments
TL;DR: 24 FDA-approved drugs have labels that mention melanoma 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 (CTLA-4 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 Receptor-1 Blocking Antibody [EPC] · Programmed Death Receptor-1-directed Antibody Interactions [MoA]
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE TECENTRIQ is a programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) blocking antibody indicated: Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) as adjuvant treatment following resection and platinum-based chemotherapy for adult patients with Stage…
Programmed Death Receptor-1 Blocking Antibody [EPC] · Endoglycosidase [EPC]
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE TECENTRIQ HYBREZA is a combination of atezolizumab, a programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) blocking antibody, and hyaluronidase, an endoglycosidase indicated: Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) as adjuvant treatment fol…
CTLA-4-directed Blocking Antibody [EPC] · CTLA-4-directed Antibody Interactions [MoA]
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE YERVOY is a human cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4)-blocking antibody indicated for: Melanoma • Treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma in adults and pediatric patients 12 years and older as a single…
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] · Lymphocyte Activation Gene-3 Blocker [EPC]
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE OPDUALAG™ is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age or older with unresectable or metastatic melanoma. OPDUALAG is a combination of nivolumab, a programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1)…
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.
Bispecific gp100 Peptide-HLA-directed CD3 T Cell Engager [EPC] · Glycoprotein 100 Peptide-Human Leukocyte Antigen-directed Antibody Interactions [MoA]
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE KIMMTRAK is indicated for the treatment of HLA-A*02:01-positive adult patients with unresectable or metastatic uveal melanoma. KIMMTRAK is a bispecific gp100 peptide-HLA-directed CD3 T cell engager indicated for the
Small-molecule drugs taken by mouth that block specific molecular pathways driving cancer growth (kinases, PARP, CDK4/6, etc.).
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE MEKTOVI is a kinase inhibitor indicated: • in combination with encorafenib, for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma with a BRAF V600E or V600K mutation, as detected by an FDA-approved t…
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE COTELLIC ® is a kinase inhibitor indicated: For the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma with a BRAF V600E or V600K mutation, in combination with vemurafenib. ( 1.1 , 14.1 ) As a singl…
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE TAFINLAR is a kinase inhibitor indicated as a single agent for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma with BRAF V600E mutation as detected by an FDA-approved test. ( 1.1 , 2.1 ) TAFINLAR i…
Alkylating Drug [EPC] · Alkylating Activity [MoA]
From the FDA label: INDICATIONS AND USAGE Dacarbazine for Injection, USP is indicated in the treatment of metastatic malignant melanoma. In addition, dacarbazine is also indicated for Hodgkin's disease as a second-line therapy when used in combination with oth…
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE BRAFTOVI is a kinase inhibitor indicated: Melanoma • in combination with binimetinib, for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma with a BRAF V600E or V600K mutation, as detected by an FDA-…
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE MEKINIST is a kinase inhibitor indicated as a single agent for the treatment of BRAF-inhibitor treatment-naïve patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma with BRAF V600E or V600K mutations as detected by an FD…
Kinase Inhibitor [EPC] · Protein Kinase Inhibitors [MoA]
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE ZELBORAF ® is a kinase inhibitor indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma with BRAF V600E mutation as detected by an FDA-approved test. ( 1.1 , 2.1 ) ZELBORAF ® is indicated fo…
Therapies using genetically modified or harvested cells — CAR-T, TIL therapy, and related cellular treatments.
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE TECELRA is a melanoma-associated antigen A4-(MAGE-A4)-directed genetically modified autologous T cell immunotherapy indicated for the treatment of adults with unresectable or metastatic synovial sarcoma who have rece…
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE AMTAGVI is a tumor-derived autologous T cell immunotherapy indicated for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma previously treated with a PD-1 blocking antibody, and if BRAF V600 mut…
Drugs whose pharmacologic class was not automatically classified into the groups above. Check the FDA label for mechanism details.
Lymphocyte Growth Factor [EPC] · Interleukin-2 [CS]
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Proleukin is a lymphocyte growth factor indicated for: The treatment of adults with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. ( 1.1 ) The treatment of adults with metastatic melanoma. ( 1.2 ) 1.1 Metastatic Renal Cell Carcino…
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE HEPZATO for injection, as a component of the HEPZATO KIT, is indicated as a liver-directed treatment for adult patients with uveal melanoma with unresectable hepatic metastases affecting less than 50% of the liver an…
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE IMLYGIC is a genetically modified oncolytic viral therapy indicated for the local treatment of unresectable cutaneous, subcutaneous, and nodal lesions in patients with melanoma recurrent after initial surgery. Limita…
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid Injection is indicated: In adults, to assist in the: localization of lymph nodes draining a primary tumor in patients with breast cancer or malignant melanoma when used with a hand-he…
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Technetium Tc 99m Sulfur Colloid Injection is indicated: In adults, to assist in the: Localization of lymph nodes draining a primary tumor in patients with breast cancer or malignant melanoma when used with a hand-he…
From the FDA label: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Lymphoseek is a radioactive diagnostic agent indicated with or without scintigraphic imaging for: • Lymphatic mapping using a handheld gamma counter to locate lymph nodes draining a primary tumor site in adult and pe…
Disease foundations below have active funds covering melanoma 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
copay assistance for chemotherapy and targeted treatment medications
https://www.cancercare.org/copayfoundationlimited financial assistance for transportation, home care, child care, and treatment-related costs
https://www.cancercare.org/financialTrials test new therapies before they are FDA-approved. Often a way to access tomorrow's drugs today.
Back to Melanoma 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.