Bristol-Myers Squibb reports positive data from Yervoy melanoma trial

Bristol-Myers Squibb has announced results from a phase III trial showing the positive impact its drug Yervoy can bring for patients with stage 3 melanoma.

Data from the randomised double-blind study demonstrated that Yervoy significantly improved recurrence-free survival rates compared to placebo among patients with stage 3 melanoma who were at high risk of recurrence following complete surgical resection.

A 25 percent reduction in the risk of recurrence or death was associated with Yervoy, while at three years, an estimated 46.5 percent of patients treated with Bristol-Myers Squibb's therapy were free of disease recurrence, compared to an estimated 34.8 percent of patients on placebo.

This means the drug was able to meet its primary efficacy endpoint in the study, showing its potential to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence at an earlier stage of melanoma.

Michael Giordano, senior vice-president and head of development for oncology and immunosciences at Bristol-Myers Squibb, said: "This is the third positive phase III trial of Yervoy in melanoma, reflecting our commitment to seeking options to address unmet medical needs across stages of disease and lines of therapy for melanoma."

Yervoy was one of a number of new immuno-oncology compounds showcased by Bristol-Myers Squibb at the recent annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, which took place in Chicago.