BMS claims rapid FDA nod for Opdivo plus Yervoy in kidney cancer

The US regulator has given the green light to PD-1 inhibitor Opdivo (nivolumab) and CTLA4 inhibitor Yervoy (ipilimumab) as an initial treatment for advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients after it showed it can improve survival compared to standard front-line drug Sutent (sunitinib) from Pfizer.

The approval covers patients who have been diagnosed with intermediate- and poor-risk RCC, according to BMS. Accounting for about 90% of cases and resulting in approximately 140,000 deaths each year, RCC is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults.

“Our goal is to provide cancer patients with medicines that have the potential to extend their lives” said Johanna Mercier, BMS’ head of US commercial. “As the first treatment option to increase overall survival for subgroups of patients with advanced RCC compared to sunitinib, the Opdivo plus low-dose Yervoy combination helps deliver on that promise.”