| Brand Name | Generic Name | How it works | Drug Company | FDA approval | Mainly used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yervoy/Opdivo | Ipilimumab/Nivolumab | Immunotherapy: Anti-CTLA4 Inhibitor + Anti-PD1 checkpoint Inhibitor Infusion | Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) | 2018 approval for intermediate and poor risk metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients | 1st line therapy for intermediate and poor risk patients |
| Opdivo | Nivolumab | Immunotherapy: Anti-PD1 Checkpoint inhibitor | Bristol Myers Squibb | 2015 approval for metastatic RCC patients following one prior anti-angiogenic therapy | 2nd line |
| Cabometyx | Cabozantinib | Targeted Therapy: TKI, VEGF and c-MET inhibitor Oral medication | Exelixis | 2016 approval for metastatic RCC after prior therapy; 2017 approval for first line metastatic RCC. | 2nd line, also approved in 1st line for intermediate and poor risk |
| Sutent | Sunitinib | Targeted Therapy: Tyrosine-Kinase Inhibitor (TKI) or VEGF inhibitor Oral medication | Pfizer | 2006 approval for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC); 2017 approval for RCC at high risk of recurrence | 1st line and as adjuvant treatment. |
| Votrient | Pazopanib | Targeted Therapy: TKI, VEGF inhibitor Oral medication | Novartis | 2012 approval for metastatic RCC | 1st line |
| Opdivo | Nivolumab | Immunotherapy: Anti-PD1 Checkpoint-Inhibitor infusion | Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) | 2015 approval for metastatic RCC patients following one prior anti-angiogenic therapy | 2nd or later line |
| Lenvima/Afinitor | Lenvatinib/Everoliums | Targeted Therapy: TKI, VEGF inhibitor + m-TOR inhibitor Oral medication | Eisai | 2016 approval for metastatic RCC patients following one prior anti-angiogenic therapy | 2nd or later line |
| Inlyta | Axitinib | Targeted Therapy: TKI, VEGF inhibitor Oral medication | Pfizer | 2012 approval for metastatic RCC after failure of one prior systemic therapy | 2nd or later line |
| Proleukin | Aldesleukin (also known as high-dose Interleukin-2 IL-2, HDIL-2) | Immunotherapy Inpatient Infusion | Prometheus | 1992 approval for metastatic RCC | 1st line, remains a treatment option with curative potential in selected patients |
| Avastin/ Interferon (IFN) | Bevacizumab /Interferon alfa | VEGF-Antibody + immunotherapy Infusion/ subcutaneous injection | Genentech | 2009 approval for metastatic RCC | 1st line approval, rarely used given limited efficacy and IFN side effects |
| Nexavar | Sorafenib | Targeted Therapy: TKI, VEGF inhibitor Oral medication | Bayer | 2005 approval for metastatic RCC | Late line |
| Afinitor | Everolimus | Targeted Therapy: mTOR-Inhibitor Oral medication | Novartis | 2009 approval for metastatic RCC after failure of treatment with sunitinib or sorafenib | 2nd or later line, now primarily in combination with Lenvima |
| Torisel | Temsirolimus | Targeted Therapy: mTOR-Inhibitor Infusion | Pfizer | 2007 approval for metastatic RCC | Approved for poor risk 1st line for select patients; but now rarely used given alternatives |