BMS and Medarex announce phase II ipilimumab data

Bristol Myers-Squibb (BMS) and Medarex have announced the publication of updated survival data from three phase II studies of ipilimumab in patients with metastatic melanoma.

The results presented at the congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology revealed that almost half of previously-treated metastatic melanoma patients in stage III or IV of the disease were alive after one year of therapy with 10mg/kg ipilimumab.

BMS said these results were based on a follow-up of patient populations from the 007, 008 and 022 studies, with a consistent one-year survival rate of between 47 and 51 per cent observed.

The firm said safety results from the three phase II studies were consistent with those previously reported in earlier clinical trials of the compound.

Michele Maio, director of the Division of Medical Oncology and Immunotherapy at the University Hospital of Siena, said: “Currently, there are few treatment options available for patients with advanced melanoma.”

She added that the company is encouraged by the durability of response and consistency of survival results seen across all three studies analysed.

In June 2007, BMS and Medarex presented phase I and II clinical trial data for ipilimumab in advanced melanoma patients, with 19 per cent of patients treated showing tumour shrinkage and condition stabilisation.