Bristol-Myers Squibb reports renal cell carcinoma data for Opdivo

Bristol-Myers Squibb has announced new clinical trial data showing the potential benefits of Opdivo in the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma.

Results from CheckMate -025, a phase III study comparing Opdivo to the standard of care in advanced renal cell carcinoma after prior anti-angiogenic treatment, showed a significant overall survival benefit for Bristol-Myers Squibb's drug.

Patients treated with Opdivo achieved a median overall survival rate of 25 months, five months longer than the standard of care, while its safety and tolerability profile was consistent with previously-reported results from prior Opdivo clinical development programmes.

CheckMate -025 was stopped early in July because an assessment conducted by the independent data monitoring committee concluded that the study had already met its primary endpoint.

Michael Giordano, senior vice-president and head of development for oncology at Bristol-Myers Squibb, said: "We continue to see the potential of our immuno-oncology agent Opdivo to provide meaningful improvement in multiple tumour types over current standards of care in terms of overall survival."