Aug. 11 Quick Takes: BMS hits, Genentech misses; plus JW-Lyell, CStone, Big Health

Opdivo clears Phase III hurdles in gastric, esophageal cancers

Opdivo nivolumab from  Bristol Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE:BMY) plus chemotherapy led to a survival benefit compared with chemotherapy alone in the Phase III CheckMate -649 trial as first-line therapy for gastric or esophageal cancer, meeting primary endpoints evaluating overall survival and progression-free survival. The pharma said the PD-1 inhibitor also met the primary endpoint of the Phase III CheckMate -577 trial, showing a disease-free survival benefit vs. placebo as an adjuvant treatment for resected esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer...