Positive CHMP opinion for Opdivo (nivolumab) plus Yervoy (ipilimumab) as a first-line treatment option for adult patients with unresectable or advanced hepatocellular carcinoma – BMS

Bristol Myers Squibb announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the  EMA has recommended approval of Opdivo (nivolumab) plus Yervoy (ipilimumab) for the first-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable or advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), based on results from the Phase III CheckMate -9DW trial. The CHMP opinion will now be reviewed by the European Commission (EC), which has the authority to approve medicines in the European Union (EU).

“Hepatocellular carcinoma is the predominant type of liver cancer globally, including in the European Union, and when diagnosed at the advanced or unresectable stage, prognosis and overall survival remain sub-optimal with conventional therapy,” said Dr. Dana Walker,  vice president, Opdivo global program lead, Bristol Myers Squibb. “The positive opinion received by the CHMP is a significant step forward in providing patients with additional treatment options, and we look forward to the upcoming European Commission review and the potential to expand the treatment landscape for adult patients with unresectable or advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.”

In June 2024, results were presented at the 2024 American Society of Oncology (ASCO ) Annual Meeting which showed statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in the clinical trial’s primary endpoint of overall survival (OS). In the trial, median OS was 23.7 months (95% CI: 18.8–29.4) for Opdivo plus Yervoy compared to 20.6 months (95% CI: 17.5–22.5) with the investigator’s choice of lenvatinib or sorafenib (HR: 0.79 (0.65–0.96); p=0.018). The OS benefit was observed across clinically relevant patient subgroups. The safety profile for the combination of Opdivo plus Yervoy remained consistent with previously reported data and was manageable with established protocols, with no new safety signals identified.

CheckMate -9DW is a Phase III randomized, open-label clinical trial evaluating the combination of Opdivo plus Yervoy compared to investigator’s choice of lenvatinib or sorafenib monotherapy in adult patients with unresectable or advanced hepatocellular carcinoma who have not received prior systemic therapy. Approximately 668 patients were randomized to receive Opdivo plus Yervoy ( Opdivo 1mg/kg plus Yervoy 3mg/kg Q3W for up to four doses, followed by Opdivo monotherapy 480mg Q4W infusion, or single agent lenvatinib or sorafenib as oral capsules in the control arm. The primary endpoint of the trial is overall survival (OS) and key secondary endpoints include objective response rate (ORR) and time to symptom deterioration.