PRINCETON, N.J. - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted a supplemental Biologics Application (sBLA) for Opdivo (nivolumab), an immunotherapy drug, in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of a specific type of lung cancer. The FDA has set a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date of October 8, 2024, to complete its review.
Opdivo is being evaluated for its potential use in the perioperative treatment of resectable stage IIA to IIIB non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The application is based on results from the Phase 3 CheckMate -77T trial, which showed a statistically significant improvement in event-free survival (EFS) for patients treated with the Opdivo-based regimen compared to the current standard of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and placebo followed by surgery and adjuvant placebo.
The trial also assessed secondary endpoints, including pathologic complete response (pCR) and major pathologic response (MPR), and found benefits in these areas as well. The safety profile of the perioperative regimen was consistent with previous studies in NSCLC, and no new safety signals were identified.
Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths globally, with NSCLC being the most common type, accounting for up to 84% of cases. Despite surgical advances, a significant number of patients experience disease recurrence, highlighting the need for new treatment options that can be administered before (neoadjuvant) and/or after surgery (adjuvant) to improve long-term outcomes.
Opdivo, a programmed death-1 (PD-1) immune checkpoint inhibitor, is designed to harness the body’s immune system to help restore anti-tumor immune response. It has shown efficacy benefits in various cancer treatments, including lung, bladder, esophageal/gastroesophageal junction cancer, and melanoma.
Bristol Myers (NYSE:BMY) Squibb, the company behind Opdivo, is committed to expanding treatment options for cancer patients and improving their outcomes. The acceptance of the sBLA by the FDA represents a significant step in potentially providing a new treatment regimen for patients with resectable non-small cell lung cancer.
This news is based on a press release statement from Bristol Myers Squibb. The company's shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol NYSE:BMY.
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