Bristol-Myers Squibb reports positive new Opdivo data at SMR 2015

Bristol-Myers Squibb has reported clinical data at the 2015 Society for Melanoma Research (SMR) International Congress demonstrating the survival benefits associated with Opdivo.

New long-term data on Opdivo used as a single agent and in combination with Yervoy showed the drug's survival benefits in advanced melanoma across the various lines of therapy.

Results from the CheckMate-066 trial showed that Opdivo demonstrated superior overall survival compared to an established therapy, with 57.7 percent of patients alive at two years compared to 26.7 percent of patients treated with the alternative.

The two-year survival and safety data from CheckMate-066 represent the longest follow-up from a randomised study of any PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor in the first-line setting of advanced melanoma.

Meanwhile, follow-up data for the Opdivo/Yervoy regimen from Study 004 indicates a three-year overall survival rate of 68 percent across phase I dosing cohorts.

Dr Michael Giordano, senior vice-president and head of oncology development at Bristol-Myers Squibb, said: "The long-term survival data for our immuno-oncology agent Opdivo as a single agent and in combination with Yervoy presented at SMR shows our continued commitment to improve outcomes for patients with advanced melanoma."