Opdivo demonstrates positive results in patients with upper GI cancers
Bristol Myers Squibb announced positive results from its phase 3 CheckMate-648 trial of nivolumab for the treatment of patients with unresectable advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
According to study results, among patients whose tumors expressed PD-L1, nivolumab (Opdivo) plus chemotherapy demonstrated clinically meaningful benefit of overall survival as well as meaningful improvement of progression-free survival by blinded independent central review.
Further, nivolumab plus ipilimumab (Yervoy) also met study endpoints of improvement in overall survival among patients whose tumors expressed PD-L1; nivolumab plus ipilimumab did not meet its endpoint of progression-free survival by blinded independent central review.
Building on prior study results, nivolumab is the first PD-1/L1 inhibitor to demonstrate first-line survival among patients with upper GI cancer across histologies and tumor locations.
“The results for these Opdivo-based combinations represent a significant advancement for patients with esophageal cancer who are often diagnosed after their disease has spread and would benefit from new therapeutic options,” Ian M. Waxman, MD, development lead, gastrointestinal cancers, Bristol Myers Squibb, said in a press release. “This study further demonstrates our commitment to pursue combination strategies that improve outcomes for patients with high unmet need, such as those with gastrointestinal cancers.”
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