• Study Met Its Co-Primary Endpoint of Overall Survival with Opdivo® (nivolumab) Plus Low Dose Yervoy® (ipilimumab) vs. Chemotherapy in First-Line Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Whose Tumors Express PD-L1 ≥1%
  • Third Tumor Type in Which Opdivo Plus Yervoy Demonstrates Overall Survival Benefit in a Phase 3 Trial

PRINCETON, NJ, USA I July 25, 2019 I Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE: BMY) today announced that Part 1a of the Phase 3 CheckMate -227 trial evaluating Opdivo® (nivolumab) plus low-dose Yervoy® (ipilimumab) met the co-primary endpoint of overall survival (OS), demonstrating a superior benefit versus chemotherapy in first-line non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients whose tumors express PD-L1 ≥1%. The safety profile was consistent with previously reported findings in first-line NSCLC for the Opdivo 3 mg/kg every two weeks and low-dose Yervoy (1 mg/kg) every six weeks combination schedule. The company will share data from this trial with regulatory authorities.

In an exploratory analysis of patients in Part 1b whose tumors do not express PD-L1, a survival benefit was also observed with Opdivo plus low-dose Yervoy. The company looks forward to the complete findings from CheckMate -227 Part 1 being presented at an upcoming medical meeting.

“CheckMate-227 is the first Phase 3 trial to demonstrate that patients with lung cancer can achieve superior overall survival with a dual immunotherapy combination versus chemotherapy,” said Fouad Namouni, M.D., head, Oncology Development, Bristol-Myers Squibb. “Lung cancer is the third tumor type where the Opdivo plus Yervoy regimen has shown a significant overall survival benefit in a randomized Phase 3 trial, reinforcing the importance of Yervoy in the treatment of cancer. We thank the patients and investigators who participated in this trial.”

“The nivolumab plus ipilimumab results from Part 1a of CheckMate-227 offers the potential for a chemo-sparing regimen that demonstrates an OS benefit to first-line lung cancer patients,” said Martin Reck, CheckMate 227 study investigator, from Lung Clinic Grosshansdorf, German Center of Lung Research. “I am also encouraged to see activity in PD-L1 expressors and non-expressors, and look forward to seeing the full data presented in the future.”

Bristol-Myers Squibb also announced today that Part 2 of the CheckMate -227 trial, evaluating Opdivo plus chemotherapy, did not meet the pre-specified primary endpoint of OS versus chemotherapy in patients with non-squamous histology, regardless of PD-L1 status. Additional information can be found at BMS.com.

Time Change for Q2 Earnings Results Conference Call

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company announced today that its second quarter 2019 earnings call has been rescheduled to 8:30 a.m. ET tomorrow, Thursday, July 25, 2019. The dial-in information remains the same and is listed below. During the conference call, company executives will review financial information and will address inquiries from investors and analysts.

Investors and the general public are invited to listen to a live webcast of the call at http://investor.bms.com or by dialing in the U.S. toll free 888-254-3590 or international 323-994-2093, confirmation code: 9333832. A replay of the call will be available beginning at 11:45 a.m. ET on July 25 through 11:45 a.m. ET on August 8, 2019. The replay will also be available through http://investor.bms.com or by dialing in the U.S. toll free 888-203-1112 or international 719-457-0820, confirmation code: 9333832.

About CheckMate -227

CheckMate -227 is a multi-part open-label Phase 3 trial evaluating Opdivo-based regimens versus platinum-doublet chemotherapy in patients with first-line advanced non-small cell lung cancer across non-squamous and squamous tumor histologies:

  • Part 1:
    • Part 1a: Opdivo plus low-dose Yervoy or Opdivo monotherapy versus chemotherapy in patients whose tumors express PD-L1
    • Part 1b: Opdivo plus low-dose Yervoy or Opdivo plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy in patients whose tumors do not express PD-L1
  • Part 2: Opdivo plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy, regardless of PD-L1

There are two co-primary endpoints in Part 1 for Opdivo plus Yervoy (versus chemotherapy): overall survival (OS) in patients whose tumors express PD-L1 (assessed in patients enrolled in Part 1a) and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with TMB ≥10 mut/Mb across the PD-L1 spectrum (assessed in patients enrolled across Parts 1a and 1b). Part 1 met both its co-primary endpoints of PFS with the Opdivo plus Yervoy combination versus chemotherapy in patients whose tumors have high (≥10 mutations/megabase, mut/mb) TMB, regardless of PD-L1 expression, and OS demonstrating a superior benefit for Opdivo plus low-dose Yervoy or Opdivo versus chemotherapy in first-line NSCLC patients whose tumors express PD-L1 ≥1%. Part 2 did not meet its primary endpoint for OS for Opdivo plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone, in patients with non-squamous NSCLC.

Bristol-Myers Squibb: Advancing Oncology Research

At Bristol-Myers Squibb, patients are at the center of everything we do. The focus of our research is to increase quality, long-term survival for patients and make cure a possibility. Through a unique multidisciplinary approach powered by translational science, we harness our deep scientific experience in oncology and Immuno-Oncology (I-O) research to identify novel treatments tailored to individual patient needs. Our researchers are developing a diverse, purposefully built pipeline designed to target different immune system pathways and address the complex and specific interactions between the tumor, its microenvironment and the immune system. We source innovation internally, and in collaboration with academia, government, advocacy groups and biotechnology companies, to help make the promise of transformational medicines, like I-O, a reality for patients.

About Opdivo

Opdivo is a programmed death-1 (PD-1) immune checkpoint inhibitor that is designed to uniquely harness the body’s own immune system to help restore anti-tumor immune response. By harnessing the body’s own immune system to fight cancer, Opdivo has become an important treatment option across multiple cancers.

Opdivo’s leading global development program is based on Bristol-Myers Squibb’s scientific expertise in the field of Immuno-Oncology, and includes a broad range of clinical trials across all phases, including Phase 3, in a variety of tumor types. To date, the Opdivo clinical development program has treated more than 35,000 patients. The Opdivo trials have contributed to gaining a deeper understanding of the potential role of biomarkers in patient care, particularly regarding how patients may benefit from Opdivo across the continuum of PD-L1 expression.

In July 2014, Opdivo was the first PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor to receive regulatory approval anywhere in the world. Opdivo is currently approved in more than 65 countries, including the United States, the European Union, Japan and China. In October 2015, the Company’s Opdivo and Yervoy combination regimen was the first Immuno-Oncology combination to receive regulatory approval for the treatment of metastatic melanoma and is currently approved in more than 60 countries, including the United States and the European Union.

U.S. FDA-APPROVED INDICATIONS FOR OPDIVO®

OPDIVO® (nivolumab) as a single agent is indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma.

OPDIVO® (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY® (ipilimumab), is indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma.

OPDIVO® (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients with EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations should have disease progression on FDA-approved therapy for these aberrations prior to receiving OPDIVO.

OPDIVO® (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic small cell lung cancer (SCLC) with progression after platinum-based chemotherapy and at least one other line of therapy. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.

OPDIVO® (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) who have received prior anti-angiogenic therapy.

OPDIVO® (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY® (ipilimumab), is indicated for the treatment of patients with intermediate or poor risk, previously untreated advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

OPDIVO® (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) that has relapsed or progressed after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and brentuximab vedotin or after 3 or more lines of systemic therapy that includes autologous HSCT. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.

OPDIVO® (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) with disease progression on or after platinum-based therapy.

OPDIVO® (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma who have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy or have disease progression within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment with platinum-containing chemotherapy. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.

OPDIVO® (nivolumab), as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric (12 years and older) patients with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) that has progressed following treatment with a fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.

OPDIVO® (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY® (ipilimumab), is indicated for the treatment of adults and pediatric patients 12 years and older with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) that has progressed following treatment with a fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.

OPDIVO® (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who have been previously treated with sorafenib. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.

OPDIVO® (nivolumab) is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of patients with melanoma with involvement of lymph nodes or metastatic disease who have undergone complete resection.

Checkmate Trials and Patient Populations

Checkmate 037–previously treated metastatic melanoma; Checkmate 066–previously untreated metastatic melanoma; Checkmate 067–previously untreated metastatic melanoma, as a single agent or in combination with YERVOY; Checkmate 017–second-line treatment of metastatic squamous non-small cell lung cancer; Checkmate 057–second-line treatment of metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer; Checkmate 032–small cell lung cancer; Checkmate 025–previously treated renal cell carcinoma; Checkmate 214–previously untreated renal cell carcinoma, in combination with YERVOY; Checkmate 205/039–classical Hodgkin lymphoma; Checkmate 141–recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck; Checkmate 275–urothelial carcinoma; Checkmate 142–MSI-H or dMMR metastatic colorectal cancer, as a single agent or in combination with YERVOY; Checkmate 040–hepatocellular carcinoma; Checkmate 238–adjuvant treatment of melanoma.

About the Bristol-Myers Squibb and Ono Pharmaceutical Collaboration

In 2011, through a collaboration agreement with Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Bristol-Myers Squibb expanded its territorial rights to develop and commercialize Opdivo globally, except in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, where Ono had retained all rights to the compound at the time. On July 23, 2014, Ono and Bristol-Myers Squibb further expanded the companies’ strategic collaboration agreement to jointly develop and commercialize multiple immunotherapies – as single agents and combination regimens – for patients with cancer in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan.

About Bristol-Myers Squibb

Bristol-Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company whose mission is to discover, develop and deliver innovative medicines that help patients prevail over serious diseases. For more information about Bristol-Myers Squibb, visit us at BMS.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook.

SOURCE: Bristol-Myers Squibb