Bristol-Myers Squibb reports further positive trial data for Opdivo

Bristol-Myers Squibb has reported new clinical trial data that further underlines the benefits offered by its new drug Opdivo.

Results from the phase III CheckMate -017 study demonstrated the benefits offered by Opdivo compared to docetaxel in previously treated patients with advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer.

After one year, Opdivo demonstrated an overall survival rate of 42 percent, versus 24 percent for docetaxel, with a median overall survival of 9.2 months versus six months respectively.

Overall, the drug demonstrated significant superiority across all endpoints – including response rate and progression-free survival – versus the standard of care in PD-L1 expressers and non-expressers.

Michael Giordano, senior vice-president and head of development for Bristol-Myers Squibb's oncology business, said: "This is incredibly encouraging news as we continue to study potential new options that may improve upon, and potentially replace, the current standard of care."

This comes after the firm also recently announced data showing the effectiveness of Opdivo in the treatment of previously untreated advanced melanoma.