Bristol Myers Squibb's Opdivo Plus Yervoy Combo Shows Durable, Long-Term Survival In Lung Cancer Patients

Bristol Myers Squibb & Co BMY announced six-year results from Part 1 of the Phase 3 CheckMate -227 trial, which continues to demonstrate long-term, durable survival benefits of Opdivo (nivolumab) plus Yervoy (ipilimumab) compared to chemotherapy in the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC), regardless of PD-L1 expression levels. 

Follow-up results of the primary endpoint population of patients with tumor PD-L1 expression ≥1% show that the six-year survival rate for Opdivo plus Yervoy was 22%, compared to 13% for chemotherapy.

About 16% of patients were alive in the Opdivo plus Yervoy compared to 5% in the chemo-alone group.

Saturday, the company also shared results from a Phase 2 study evaluating BMS-986278 in patients with progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF). 

The study showed that twice-daily administration of 60 mg of BMS-986278 over 26 weeks reduced the rate of decline in percent predicted forced vital capacity (ppFVC) by 69% compared to placebo (overall, 38% of patients in the study received background antifibrotic therapy). 

In the PPF cohort, treatment with 60 mg of BMS-986278 led to a 69% relative reduction in the rate of change in ppFVC versus placebo in the while-on-treatment analysis (treatment difference versus placebo 2.9%) and a 74% relative reduction versus placebo in the treatment policy analysis (3.2%). 

In the 30 mg group, a 42% relative reduction was observed in the while-on-treatment analysis, and a 37% relative reduction was observed in the treatment policy analysis. 

The treatment effect was consistent in the presence or absence of background antifibrotics and the usual interstitial pneumonia pattern.

BMS-986278 was well tolerated in both treatment arms of the PPF cohort, with rates of adverse events similar to placebo and low discontinuation rates. 

Results from the IPF cohort of the Phase 2 study were previously presented at the American Thoracic Society International Conference in May 2023, showing a 62% relative reduction in the rate of decline in ppFVC with 60 mg BMS-986278 versus placebo with or without background therapy. 

Price Action: BMY shares are up 0.41% at $61.07 on the last check Monday.