CHICAGO--Bristol-Myers Squibb's ($BMY) pioneering early-stage study of a combination of Yervoy and its PD-1 drug nivolumab has posted extended survival data showing that a large majority of patients taking the optimum dose now in late-stage trials survived to the two-year mark. The new figures from a leader in the field underscore a steadily broadening portfolio of data that demonstrates these immuno-oncology drugs offer a new method for guarding cancer patients' lives.
Altogether 88% of patients taking the combo regimen of 1 mg/kg nivolumab plus 3 mg/kg of Yervoy survived 24 months; the one-year overall survival rate was 94%. However, close to two of every three patients experienced grade 3/4 adverse events.
Bristol-Myers has committed one of the largest budgets in the industry for immuno-oncology, which the company sees as an anchor to its future growth plans. But it's also been dogged by persistent questions over signs of toxicity in the combination of Yervoy and nivolumab, which could blunt its market potential.
On Monday, though, the company was focused on the impressive survival data.
"The treatment of advanced melanoma has changed dramatically in the last few years, but there continues to be a need to increase the number of patients who experience a long-term survival benefit," said Dr. Mario Sznol, Yale University School of Medicine and Yale Cancer Center, presenter of the results. "While these are Phase 1b data, the duration of response and one- and two-year survival rates observed with the combination regimen of nivolumab and Yervoy are very encouraging and support the rationale for the ongoing, late stage trials of this combination regimen."
- here's the release