IPILIMUMAB

85/100 · Critical

Manufactured by E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.

High Safety Concerns with Ipilimumab: Serious Adverse Events Predominate

65,125 FDA adverse event reports analyzed

Last updated: 2026-05-12

About IPILIMUMAB

IPILIMUMAB is a medication tracked in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), manufactured by E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.. Based on analysis of 65,125 FDA adverse event reports, IPILIMUMAB has a safety score of 85 out of 100. This score indicates a relatively favorable safety profile, with fewer or less severe adverse events compared to many other tracked medications. The most commonly reported adverse reactions for IPILIMUMAB include DEATH, MALIGNANT NEOPLASM PROGRESSION, DIARRHOEA, OFF LABEL USE, COLITIS. This page provides a comprehensive breakdown of reported side effects, safety signals, patient demographics, and AI-powered safety analysis for IPILIMUMAB.

AI Safety Analysis

Ipilimumab has a safety concern score of 85 out of 100, placing it in the high concern category based on analysis of FDA adverse event data. The FDA has received approximately 65,125 adverse event reports for this medication, which is primarily manufactured by E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C..

The most commonly reported adverse events include Death, Malignant Neoplasm Progression, Diarrhoea. Of classified reports, 88.8% were designated as serious by the FDA, meaning they involved hospitalization, disability, or other significant medical outcomes. Ipilimumab reports predominantly involve serious adverse events, with death and malignant neoplasm progression being the most frequent.

A wide range of reactions are reported, indicating diverse safety concerns. The majority of reports are from male patients aged 65-75 years.

Patients taking Ipilimumab should monitor for the commonly reported side effects and contact their healthcare provider if they experience any unusual symptoms. Ipilimumab can cause severe immune-mediated adverse reactions, and patients should be monitored for signs of these conditions. Drug interactions are not well-documented, but caution is advised when used with other immunosuppressive agents. This analysis is based on voluntary FDA adverse event reports and should not replace professional medical advice.

Safety Score: 85/100

Ipilimumab received a safety concern score of 85/100 (high concern). This is based on a 88.8% serious event ratio across 41,217 classified reports. The score accounts for 65,125 total adverse event reports and 100 distinct reaction types. This high score reflects a significant proportion of serious adverse events in the reporting data.

Top Adverse Reactions

DEATH4,177 reports
MALIGNANT NEOPLASM PROGRESSION3,667 reports
DIARRHOEA3,053 reports
OFF LABEL USE2,351 reports
COLITIS2,270 reports
PYREXIA1,996 reports
RASH1,768 reports
FATIGUE1,658 reports
NAUSEA1,358 reports
INTENTIONAL PRODUCT USE ISSUE1,349 reports
DECREASED APPETITE1,087 reports
HYPOPHYSITIS1,060 reports
VOMITING1,038 reports
IMMUNE MEDIATED ENTEROCOLITIS1,028 reports
DYSPNOEA992 reports
PNEUMONIA952 reports
PNEUMONITIS939 reports
ADVERSE EVENT928 reports
ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY898 reports
PRURITUS891 reports
ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY843 reports
HYPOTHYROIDISM814 reports
HEADACHE797 reports
ASTHENIA705 reports
ANAEMIA702 reports
MALAISE676 reports
DEHYDRATION671 reports
WEIGHT DECREASED649 reports
DRUG INEFFECTIVE642 reports
SEPSIS629 reports
HEPATITIS618 reports
GENERAL PHYSICAL HEALTH DETERIORATION577 reports
HYPERTHYROIDISM560 reports
ARTHRALGIA558 reports
LIVER DISORDER542 reports
HYPONATRAEMIA525 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN509 reports
HEPATIC FUNCTION ABNORMAL505 reports
INTERSTITIAL LUNG DISEASE498 reports
MYOCARDITIS491 reports
HYPOTENSION483 reports
PRESCRIBED OVERDOSE462 reports
CONSTIPATION455 reports
IMMUNE MEDIATED HEPATITIS455 reports
ASPARTATE AMINOTRANSFERASE INCREASED438 reports
ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE INCREASED435 reports
PRODUCT USE IN UNAPPROVED INDICATION433 reports
PLEURAL EFFUSION429 reports
HYPOPITUITARISM421 reports
PAIN419 reports
CYTOKINE RELEASE SYNDROME414 reports
COUGH401 reports
THROMBOCYTOPENIA396 reports
BACK PAIN391 reports
PULMONARY EMBOLISM389 reports
AUTOIMMUNE HEPATITIS385 reports
DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS378 reports
ENTEROCOLITIS372 reports
IMMUNE MEDIATED HEPATIC DISORDER355 reports
MUSCULAR WEAKNESS338 reports
TYPE 1 DIABETES MELLITUS336 reports
THYROIDITIS334 reports
DIZZINESS329 reports
RENAL FAILURE323 reports
NEUTROPENIA321 reports
RESPIRATORY FAILURE320 reports
ATRIAL FIBRILLATION316 reports
MYOSITIS314 reports
IMMUNE MEDIATED LUNG DISEASE311 reports
METASTASES TO CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM308 reports
RASH MACULO PAPULAR307 reports
CHILLS302 reports
DIABETES MELLITUS298 reports
HYPERGLYCAEMIA292 reports
URINARY TRACT INFECTION287 reports
NON SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER285 reports
AUTOIMMUNE COLITIS280 reports
MYALGIA277 reports
ARTHRITIS276 reports
CONFUSIONAL STATE276 reports
HYPOKALAEMIA275 reports
FEBRILE NEUTROPENIA271 reports
IMMUNE MEDIATED MYOCARDITIS261 reports
HEPATOTOXICITY259 reports
FALL253 reports
NEUROPATHY PERIPHERAL251 reports
AUTOIMMUNE DISORDER249 reports
IMMUNE MEDIATED DERMATITIS246 reports
INFUSION RELATED REACTION241 reports
PRODUCT STORAGE ERROR239 reports
THYROID DISORDER239 reports
HYPERTENSION232 reports
PANCREATITIS232 reports
PLATELET COUNT DECREASED226 reports
SEPTIC SHOCK226 reports
CARDIAC FAILURE224 reports
RASH PRURITIC224 reports
BLOOD CREATININE INCREASED222 reports
HOSPITALISATION222 reports
DISEASE PROGRESSION221 reports

Key Safety Signals

  • High incidence of death and malignant neoplasm progression.
  • Significant reports of immune-mediated adverse events such as enterocolitis and hepatitis.
  • Multiple reports of respiratory and cardiac issues, including pneumonia and myocarditis.

Patient Demographics

Adverse event reports by sex: Male: 22,554, Female: 12,606, Unknown: 206. The most frequently reported age groups are age 68 (1,066 reports), age 70 (991 reports), age 71 (969 reports). These demographics reflect reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Report Outcomes

Out of 41,217 classified reports for IPILIMUMAB:

  • Serious: 36,587 reports (88.8%) — includes hospitalization, disability, life-threatening events, or death
  • Non-Serious: 4,630 reports (11.2%)
Serious 88.8%Non-Serious 11.2%

The FDA classifies an adverse event as “serious” if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, congenital anomaly, or requires intervention to prevent permanent damage.

Demographics Breakdown

Reports by Sex

Male22,554 (63.8%)
Female12,606 (35.6%)
Unknown206 (0.6%)

Reports by Age

Age 681,066 reports
Age 70991 reports
Age 71969 reports
Age 69960 reports
Age 72952 reports
Age 65947 reports
Age 66935 reports
Age 67928 reports
Age 64912 reports
Age 63851 reports
Age 73840 reports
Age 74802 reports
Age 62801 reports
Age 60794 reports
Age 61762 reports
Age 58729 reports
Age 75726 reports
Age 76717 reports
Age 59710 reports
Age 57683 reports

Demographics reflect voluntary FDA adverse event reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Drug Interactions & Warnings

Ipilimumab can cause severe immune-mediated adverse reactions, and patients should be monitored for signs of these conditions. Drug interactions are not well-documented, but caution is advised when used with other immunosuppressive agents.

What You Should Know

If you are taking Ipilimumab, here are important things to know. The most commonly reported side effects include death, malignant neoplasm progression, diarrhoea, off label use, colitis. While many of these may be mild and temporary, you should contact your healthcare provider if any symptoms are severe or persistent. Patients should be closely monitored for signs of severe adverse reactions, including respiratory and cardiac issues. Follow the prescribed dosing regimen and report any side effects to your healthcare provider promptly. If you experience a serious adverse reaction, seek emergency medical attention immediately or call 911. You can report side effects to the FDA's MedWatch program at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Regulatory Context

The FDA continues to monitor Ipilimumab for safety, and updates will be provided as necessary. Healthcare providers should report any adverse events to the FDA's MedWatch program.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many adverse event reports has the FDA received for Ipilimumab?

The FDA has received approximately 65,125 adverse event reports associated with Ipilimumab. These reports come from healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers through the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Note that the number of reports does not directly indicate the frequency of side effects, as adverse events are voluntarily reported and may be underrepresented.

What are the most commonly reported side effects of Ipilimumab?

The most frequently reported adverse events for Ipilimumab include Death, Malignant Neoplasm Progression, Diarrhoea, Off Label Use, Colitis. By volume, the top reported reactions are: Death (4,177 reports), Malignant Neoplasm Progression (3,667 reports), Diarrhoea (3,053 reports). These figures reflect FDA adverse event reports and may not represent the true incidence rate of these side effects in all patients taking Ipilimumab.

What percentage of Ipilimumab adverse event reports are serious?

Out of 41,217 classified reports, 36,587 (88.8%) were classified as serious and 4,630 as non-serious. The FDA classifies an event as "serious" if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, or other medically significant outcomes. A higher serious-event ratio warrants closer attention but does not necessarily mean the drug is unsafe.

Who reports adverse events for Ipilimumab (by sex)?

Adverse event reports for Ipilimumab break down by patient sex as follows: Male: 22,554, Female: 12,606, Unknown: 206. This distribution reflects reporting patterns rather than actual risk differences between groups. Reporting rates can be influenced by prescribing patterns, disease demographics, and reporting behavior.

What age groups report the most side effects for Ipilimumab?

The most frequently reported age groups for Ipilimumab adverse events are: age 68: 1,066 reports, age 70: 991 reports, age 71: 969 reports, age 69: 960 reports, age 72: 952 reports. Age-related reporting patterns can reflect both the demographics of the patient population and potential age-related susceptibility to certain side effects.

Who manufactures Ipilimumab?

The primary manufacturer associated with Ipilimumab adverse event reports is E.R. Squibb & Sons, L.L.C.. Multiple manufacturers may produce generic versions of this drug. The manufacturer listed reflects the most frequently reported brand in FDA adverse event data.

What other side effects have been reported for Ipilimumab?

Beyond the most common reactions, other reported adverse events for Ipilimumab include: Pyrexia, Rash, Fatigue, Nausea, Intentional Product Use Issue. Less common side effects can still be clinically significant. Patients should report any unusual symptoms to their healthcare provider.

How do I report a side effect from Ipilimumab?

You can report adverse events from Ipilimumab to the FDA through their MedWatch program at www.fda.gov/medwatch, by calling 1-800-FDA-1088, or by completing Form FDA 3500. Healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers can all submit reports. Reporting helps the FDA monitor drug safety after approval.

What is Ipilimumab's safety score and what does it mean?

Ipilimumab has a safety concern score of 85 out of 100 (high concern). This score is calculated from the ratio of serious to non-serious adverse events, the diversity of reported reactions, and the overall volume of reports relative to usage. Ipilimumab reports predominantly involve serious adverse events, with death and malignant neoplasm progression being the most frequent.

What are the key safety signals for Ipilimumab?

Key safety signals identified in Ipilimumab's adverse event data include: High incidence of death and malignant neoplasm progression.. Significant reports of immune-mediated adverse events such as enterocolitis and hepatitis.. Multiple reports of respiratory and cardiac issues, including pneumonia and myocarditis.. These signals are derived from patterns in FDA reports and should be discussed with a healthcare provider for personalized assessment.

Does Ipilimumab interact with other drugs?

Ipilimumab can cause severe immune-mediated adverse reactions, and patients should be monitored for signs of these conditions. Drug interactions are not well-documented, but caution is advised when used with other immunosuppressive agents. Always inform your healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and over-the-counter drugs you are taking before starting Ipilimumab.

What should patients know before taking Ipilimumab?

Patients should be closely monitored for signs of severe adverse reactions, including respiratory and cardiac issues. Follow the prescribed dosing regimen and report any side effects to your healthcare provider promptly.

Are Ipilimumab side effects well-documented?

Ipilimumab has 65,125 adverse event reports on file with the FDA. A wide range of reactions are reported, indicating diverse safety concerns. The volume of reports for Ipilimumab reflects both the drug's usage level and the vigilance of the reporting community.

What is the FDA's position on Ipilimumab?

The FDA continues to monitor Ipilimumab for safety, and updates will be provided as necessary. Healthcare providers should report any adverse events to the FDA's MedWatch program. For the most current regulatory information, check the FDA's drug labeling database or consult your pharmacist.

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Important Disclaimer: This content is generated by AI analysis of FDA adverse event reports and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Adverse event reports submitted to the FDA do not prove that a medication caused the reported side effect. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication. If you experience a serious side effect, contact your doctor or call 911 immediately.