MRA Meet Ups: Unlocking LAG-3 – New Frontiers in Combination Immunotherapy for Melanoma

On Friday, September 26, the Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA) hosted an installment of its patient-focused MRA Meet Up series: “Unlocking LAG-3 – New Frontiers in Combination Immunotherapy for Melanoma.”

This special session featured Dr. Hussein Tawbi, Professor and Deputy Chair of the Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center, in conversation with MRA’s Dana Deighton. Together, they took a deep dive into the science and clinical research behind LAG-3 - the newest immune checkpoint to be validated in melanoma - and explored how pairing a LAG-3-blocking drug with a PD-1-blocking drug can help reinvigorate exhausted T cells and improve patient outcomes.

Dr. Tawbi provided a clear, patient-friendly overview of clinical trials, explaining what “head-to-head” studies are, why rigorous data collection matters, and the difference between academic and community trial sites. He then discussed Regeneron’s comprehensive melanoma development program, which is testing the combination of fianlimab (a LAG-3-blocking drug) and cemiplimab (a PD-1-blocking drug) across four large clinical trials. These include studies for patients with:

• Resectable melanoma in both the adjuvant and neoadjuvant settings
• Unresectable or metastatic melanoma as a first-line therapy
• Rare subtypes such as acral and mucosal melanoma
• Head-to-head comparisons against today’s standard-of-care treatments, including nivolumab + relatlimab (Opdualag®)

The discussion also addressed which patients might benefit from these trials - including those with prior PD-1 exposure or brain metastases - and looked ahead at how LAG-3 combinations might be used as a platform for even more innovative treatments in the future.

During an interactive Q&A, participants asked thoughtful questions about rare melanoma subtypes, biomarkers, and how this research could improve outcomes for patients with melanoma brain metastases.

This webinar was an engaging and empowering opportunity for patients and caregivers to better understand the science driving progress and to learn how to discuss clinical trials with their care teams.

Watch the full recording: