Two more cancer indications for Bristol-Myers Opdivo OKed in Europe

The European Commission has granted approval for the use of the potentially life-extending cancer immunotherapy, Opdivo (nivolumab) to treat patients with the most common forms of advanced lung and advanced kidney cancer, according to its maker, US pharma major Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY).

This significantly broadens the current label for nivolumab to include the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after prior chemotherapy, in addition to adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) who have received prior therapy. Nivolumab addresses a significant unmet need in both cancers, offering potential for longer survival than current standard therapy.

It was designated a Promising Innovative Medicine in both indications by the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, however, despite imminent reform aimed at supporting rapid access to innovative new cancer medicines like nivolumab in the UK, access for National Health Service patients remains uncertain, noted B-MS’ UK subsidiary.