Biomarkers

Serum ANG2 levels could help predict responses to anti-CTLA4 or anti-PD-1 mAbs in melanoma patients. In 134 melanoma patients treated with the anti-CTLA4 mAb Yervoy ipilimumab, Yervoy plus a biosimilar of the anti-VEGF mAb bevacizumab, the anti-PD-1 mAb Keytruda pembrolizumab or the anti-PD-1 mAb Opdivo nivolumab, high pretreatment levels of ANG2 in serum were associated with low overall survival post-treatment. Also in the patients, post-treatment serum ANG2 levels that were at least 1.25-fold pretreatment baselines were associated with low overall survival. Next steps could include validating the results in larger patient cohorts.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. and Ono Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. market Yervoy and Opdivo to treat multiple cancers...