Mesothelioma Drug Combination Continues to Show Promise

Pharmaceutical giant Bristol Myers Squibb continues to tout its immunotherapy combination of Opdivo and Yervoy for first-line treatment of patients with pleural mesothelioma cancer. Bristol Myers Squibb recently announced that overall survival “significantly improved” when the combination was measured against standard chemotherapy in a randomized, phase III clinical trial of previously untreated mesothelioma patients. Its announcement was based on a pre-specific interim analysis conducted by the Data Monitoring Committee, a clinical study organization independent of Bristol Myers Squibb. The study is being conducted at 114 centers throughout the world, including 14 across the United States. “These topline results from the trial demonstrate the potential of Opdivo plus Yervoy in previously untreated patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma,” Dr. Sabine Maier, development lead of thoracic cancers at Bristol Myers Squibb, said in a press release. Maier declined requests to provide additional insight to The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com. Opdivo/Yervoy Clinical Trial Continues for a Year The chemotherapy regimen involved Alimta (pemetrexed) and either cisplatin or carboplatin. Opdivo (nivolumab) was administered every two weeks and Yervoy (ipilimumab) every six weeks, up to four times. Therapy was received until there was unacceptable toxicity, disease progression or for a maximum of two years. This clinical trial is expected to continue until April 2021. It was ...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Source Type: news