Positive results from CheckMate -214 trial for Opdivo (nivolumab) plus Yervoy (ipilimumab) versus sunitinib as a treatment for renal cell carcinoma. - BMS

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company announced topline results today from the CheckMate -214 trial investigating Opdivo (nivolumab) in combination with Yervoy (ipilimumab) versus sunitinib in intermediate and poor-risk patients previously untreated advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma. The combination met the co-primary endpoint of objective response rate (ORR) and achieved a 41.6% ORR versus 26.5% for sunitinib. Median duration of response was not reached for the combination of Opdivo and Yervoy and was 18.17 months for sunitinib. While there was an improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) (HR=0.82, [95% CI 0.64 – 1.05]; stratified 2-sided p=0.03), it did not reach statistical significance. The median PFS was 11.56 months (95% CI 8.71 – 15.51) for the Opdivo and Yervoy combination versus 8.38 months (95% CI 7.03-10.81) for sunitinib, The study will continue as planned to allow the third co-primary endpoint of overall survival to mature. The tolerability profile observed in CheckMate-214 was consistent with that observed in previously reported studies of this dosing schedule.