Positive results for Bristol Myers Squibb lung cancer drug combo

Positive results from Bristol Myers Squibbs’ phase 3 CheckMate-9LA trial have been announced.
The trail has evaluated the combination of PD-1 inhibitor Opdivo (nivolumab) with CTLA4 blocker Yervoy (ipilimumab), with the results meeting an endpoint of superior overall survival, compared to the treatment with chemotherapy alone for up to four cycles followed by maintenance therapy.
Head of oncology development for BMS Fouad Namouni said “We’re very excited by the CheckMate results that demonstrate the potential survival benefit to patients with non-small cell lung cancer when administered with a limited course of chemotherapy. The results build on the benefit of the combination and may provide a new therapeutic option for patients.”
The survival results shown strength Bristol Myers Squibb’s case in convincing oncologists that a double cancer immunotherapy approach could be more beneficial than competitors Keytruda’s approach with chemo. If approval is gained, clinicians may need take some convincing to make the switch as the Keytruda approach is widely prescribed for newly diagnosed patients.