BMS reveals Opdivo survival data in head/neck cancer

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE:BMY) said newly presented data from the Phase III CheckMate -141 study showed Opdivo nivolumab led to a significant overall survival benefit over three standard-of-care therapies to treat recurrent or metastatic platinum-refractory squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). The pharma said in January that CheckMate -141 was stopped early after meeting the primary OS endpoint (see BioCentury Extra, Jan. 26).

Patients receiving the mAb against PD-1 had a median OS of 7.5 months vs. 5.1 months for patients receiving investigator's choice of methotrexate, docetaxel or Erbitux cetuximab (p=0.0101). The one-year survival rate for Opdivo was 36% vs. 16.6% for investigator's choice. BMS said Opdivo led to improved OS in the overall population, regardless of PD-L1 expression level. ...