EU green light for Opdivo in blood cancer as new data show promising benefits

7 December 2016
2019_biotech_test_vial_discovery_big

Breakthrough immunotherapy Opdivo (nivolumab) has been approved in the European Union for the treatment of classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL), a rare and often-aggressive blood cancer, said the drug’s maker, Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY).

Specifically, the approval is for patients whose cancer is progressing (relapsed or refractory) despite autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) and treatment with brentuximab vedotin (BV).At this advanced stage, Hodgkin lymphoma is a terminal condition with limited therapy options currently available.

The approval comes as new data presented at the American Society for Hematology (ASH) congress show that nearly 95% of patients in this setting, were still alive at one year. The primary endpoint of the study showed that considerable cancer reduction was seen in over two-thirds of patients on nivolumab (68%, 95% CI: 56%, 78%), measured as objective response rate (ORR). In addition, 8% (95% CI: 3%, 16%) of these patients saw a complete response (CR), where no recognisable sign of cancer remained.3 - the news today highlights nivolumab as an important new option for these patients.

This article is accessible to registered users, to continue reading please register for free.  A free trial will give you access to exclusive features, interviews, round-ups and commentary from the sharpest minds in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology space for a week. If you are already a registered user please login. If your trial has come to an end, you can subscribe here.

Login to your account

Become a subscriber

 

£820

Or £77 per month

Subscribe Now
  • Unfettered access to industry-leading news, commentary and analysis in pharma and biotech.
  • Updates from clinical trials, conferences, M&A, licensing, financing, regulation, patents & legal, executive appointments, commercial strategy and financial results.
  • Daily roundup of key events in pharma and biotech.
  • Monthly in-depth briefings on Boardroom appointments and M&A news.
  • Choose from a cost-effective annual package or a flexible monthly subscription
The Pharma Letter is an extremely useful and valuable Life Sciences service that brings together a daily update on performance people and products. It’s part of the key information for keeping me informed

Chairman, Sanofi Aventis UK

Company News Directory

Companies featured in this story

More ones to watch >


Today's issue

Company Spotlight





More Features in Biotechnology