Opdivo Gains New Approval in Combination with Yervoy

CP Staff
CP Staff
  • Approved in patients with microsatellite instability high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) that has progressed following treatment with a fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin and irinotecan.
  • Approval based on data from the ongoing Phase 2 CheckMate -142 study
  • The Opdivo + Yervoy combination approved in two other tumor types


Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) announced on 7/11/2018 Opdivo (nivolumab) 3 mg/kg plus low-dose Yervoy (ipilimumab) 1 mg/kg (injections for intravenous use) received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older with microsatellite instability high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) that has progressed following treatment with a fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin and irinotecan. Approval for this indication has been granted under accelerated approval based on overall response rate (ORR) and duration of response (DOR). Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.

“Bristol-Myers Squibb is pleased to bring forward Opdivo plus Yervoy as the first I-O/I-O combination therapy to be approved in this type of colorectal cancer,” said Ian M. Waxman, M.D., development lead, gastrointestinal cancers, Bristol-Myers Squibb. “Our commitment to studying Opdivo plus Yervoy, which target distinct but complementary immune pathways, results from our strong belief that rational combinations in biomarker-selected populations may improve clinical benefit for patients.”

The new approved indication was based on data from the ongoing Phase 2 CheckMate -142 study evaluating the Opdivo + Yervoy combination in patients with MSI-H or dMMR mCRC previously treated with a fluoropyrimidine-, oxaliplatin- or irinotecan-based chemotherapy. The application was granted Priority Review and Breakthrough Therapy Designation by the FDA.
 
“Metastatic colorectal cancers with dMMR or MSI-H biomarkers can be difficult to treat and some patients may need additional options,” said Heinz-Josef Lenz, M.D., FACP, L. Terrence Lanni Chair in Gastrointestinal Cancer Research, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California and principal investigator of the study at USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. “The FDA’s approval of an I-O/I-O combination provides us with an encouraging approach to address this challenging disease in patients who have progressed following treatment with three standard chemotherapy options.”

The Opdivo + Yervoy combination is also approved in two other tumor types. The Opdivo (3 mg/kg) + low-dose Yervoy (1 mg/kg) combination is approved for previously untreated patients with intermediate- or poor-risk advanced renal cell carcinoma. Opdivo (1 mg/kg) + Yervoy (3 mg/kg) is approved for patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma under accelerated approval based on progression-free survival. Opdivo as a single agent is approved for the treatment of adult and pediatric (12 years and older) patients with MSI-H or dMMR metastatic colorectal cancer that has progressed following treatment with a fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin and irinotecan under accelerated approval based on ORR and DOR. Continued approval for these accelerated approval indications may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.