Bristol-Myers Squibb Co (NYSE:BMY) announced yesterday that the Phase-III trial of its experimental lung-cancer treatment Opdivo has been terminated earlier-than-anticipated. The termination came after an independent monitoring committee concluded that the said drug had superior efficacy results, as compared to docetaxel, a chemotherapy drug used for treating lung cancer patients.
According to the independent data monitoring committee, the study accomplished its primary goal of showing a superior survival rate in comparison to docetaxel; the experimental drug yielded results that were better than the control arm. The committee made this announcement after an assessment in which Opdivo (Nivolumab) was evaluated against docetaxel in treating patients with advanced squamous cell Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). A total of 272 patients had been tested in the open-label extension study.
Opdivo helps the body’s immune system in fighting cancer by obstructing the protein PD-1 (Programmed Death Receptor). Obstruction of this pathway is essential, otherwise cancer cells slip through without being detected by the immune system. For the first time, a PD-1 inhibitor has demonstrated a survival advantage in lung cancer. The company stated that health authorities will soon be provided with extensive trial result details.
Opdivo gained the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval in 2014 for treating melanoma. Now, Bristol-Myers is seeking to have the drug label expanded to include its use in treating lung cancer; so far, the company is the only one to have developed a PD-1 inhibitor for this indication.
Many analysts believe that this therapy is promising. Due to a positive outlook, some analysts have even rated Bristol-Myers above AstraZeneca plc (ADR), Roche Holding Ltd. (ADR), and Merck & Co., Inc. Sales of the drug are expected to go up to $5 billion. Leerink Swann LLC stated that the treatment may go beyond $7 billion by 2020. Overall, the group of therapies (PD-1 and PD-L1) is estimated to result in annual revenues of around $35 billion.