CheckMate -67T is the first Phase 3 trial of the subcutaneous formulation of Opdivo to evaluate and demonstrate noninferior pharmacokinetics, efficacy and safety vs. its intravenous formulation

Subcutaneous nivolumab demonstrated noninferior pharmacokinetics (co-primary endpoints) and objective response rate (key powered secondary endpoint) compared to intravenous Opdivo

Results from the Phase 3 CheckMate -67T trial will be presented in a late-breaking oral presentation at ASCO GU 2024 in the first ever disclosure for subcutaneous formulation of Opdivo

PRINCETON, NJ, USA I January 27, 2024 IBristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) today announced the first disclosure of data from the Phase 3 CheckMate -67T trial, evaluating the subcutaneous formulation of Opdivo (nivolumab) co-formulated with Halozyme’s proprietary recombinant human hyaluronidase (rHuPH20) (herein referred to as “subcutaneous nivolumab”) compared to intravenous (IV) Opdivo in patients with advanced or metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) who have received prior systemic therapy, demonstrating noninferiority for the co-primary endpoints of Cavgd28 (time-averaged Opdivo serum concentration over 28 days) and Cminss (trough serum concentration at steady state) compared to IV Opdivo. In addition, subcutaneous nivolumab displayed noninferior objective response rate (ORR) as assessed by Blinded Independent Central Review (BICR) vs. IV Opdivo. These results will be featured in a late-breaking oral presentation (Abstract #LBA360) at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2024 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium from January 25-27, 2024.

“The data from CheckMate -67T with the subcutaneous formulation of nivolumab co-formulated with recombinant human hyaluronidase represent a groundbreaking advancement in oncology research for physicians and our patients,” said Saby George, M.D., F.A.C.P., professor of Oncology and Medicine, director of Network Clinical Trials, Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. “Having the option to administer immunotherapy subcutaneously could undoubtedly reduce the treatment burden that patients diagnosed with cancer currently face, as well as help maximize efficiencies within healthcare systems. As it stands, intravenous immunotherapy infusion can take precious time, which we know is an important commodity for patients and the doctors who treat them. That’s why these results indicating noninferiority with subcutaneous nivolumab have the potential to be practice-changing and to improve patients’ treatment experience with one injection that can be given in under five minutes and, in some cases, outside of the infusion center.”

In the CheckMate -67T trial investigating subcutaneous nivolumab (n=248) vs. IV Opdivo (n=247) in patients with advanced of metastatic ccRCC:

  • Cavgd28: Noninferiority of subcutaneous nivolumab to IV Opdivo was shown for the time-averaged serum concentration over the first 28 days, with a geometric mean ratio of 2.098 (90% Confidence Interval [CI]: 2.001 – 2.200).
  • Cminss: Noninferiority of subcutaneous nivolumab to IV Opdivo was shown for the minimum serum concentration at steady state, with a geometric mean ratio of 1.774 (90% CI: 1.633 – 1.927).
  • ORR: Noninferiority was also seen in the key powered secondary endpoint of ORR by BICR, with subcutaneous nivolumab demonstrating an ORR of 24.2% vs. 18.2% with IV Opdivo (Relative Risk Ratio [RR] 1.33; 95% CI: 0.94 to 1.87).
  • PFS: Median PFS by BICR with subcutaneous nivolumab was 7.23 months and 5.65 months with IV Opdivo.
  • Safety: The safety profile of subcutaneous nivolumab was consistent with the IV formulation. Incidence of local injection site reactions with subcutaneous nivolumab was 8.1%. Additionally, reactions were low grade and transient. Among patients treated with subcutaneous nivolumab (n=247), grade 3-4 adverse events (AEs) occurred in 35.2% of patients vs. 40.8% of patients treated with IV Opdivo (n=245). Treatment-related AEs occurred in 9.7% vs. 14.7% of patients, serious AEs in 21.1% vs. 22.9% of patients and treatment-related serious AEs in 6.5% of patients for both the subcutaneous and IV formulations.

“These results from the CheckMate -67T trial build on our deep scientific expertise in the use of immunotherapy in solid tumor oncology and our commitment to finding ways to help improve quality of life for patients,” said Gina Fusaro, Ph.D., vice president, global program lead, Bristol Myers Squibb. “We are thrilled to present this research for the first time evaluating subcutaneous nivolumab, demonstrating noninferiority compared to intravenous Opdivo and supporting subcutaneous nivolumab as a potential new option to improve healthcare efficiency. Convenience is an important benefit of subcutaneous immunotherapy and we are excited about the potential for this treatment to reduce patient burden and provide greater flexibility to patients and health care providers. We look forward to discussing next steps for subcutaneous nivolumab across multiple tumor types with health authorities.”

Bristol Myers Squibb thanks the patients and investigators involved in the CheckMate -67T clinical trial.

About CheckMate -67T

CheckMate -67T is a Phase 3 randomized, open-label trial evaluating subcutaneous administration of Opdivo co-formulated with Halozyme’s proprietary recombinant human hyaluronidase, rHuPH20, or subcutaneous nivolumab (nivolumab and hyaluronidase) compared to intravenous Opdivo, in patients with advanced or metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) who have received prior systemic therapy. This trial presents an opportunity to potentially bring a subcutaneous formulation of Opdivo to patients. A total of 495 patients were randomized to either subcutaneous nivolumab or intravenous Opdivo. The co-primary endpoints of the trial are time-averaged serum concentration over 28 days (Cavgd28) and trough serum concentration at steady-state (Cminss) of subcutaneous nivolumab vs. intravenous Opdivo. Objective response rate (ORR) is a key secondary endpoint.

About Renal Cell Carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common type of kidney cancer in adults, accounting for more than 431,000 new cases and 179,000 deaths worldwide each year. RCC is approximately twice as common in men as in women, with the highest rates of the disease in North America and Europe. Clear cell renal carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common form of RCC, affecting about 7 out of 10 people with RCC. The five-year survival rate for those diagnosed with metastatic, or advanced, kidney cancer is 14% and five-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates for those with localized disease that can be resected are just over 50%.

Bristol Myers Squibb: Creating a Better Future for People with Cancer

Bristol Myers Squibb is inspired by a single vision — transforming patients’ lives through science. The goal of the company’s cancer research is to deliver medicines that offer each patient a better, healthier life and to make cure a possibility. Building on a legacy across a broad range of cancers that have changed survival expectations for many, Bristol Myers Squibb researchers are exploring new frontiers in personalized medicine and, through innovative digital platforms, are turning data into insights that sharpen their focus. Deep understanding of causal human biology, cutting-edge capabilities and differentiated research platforms uniquely position the company to approach cancer from every angle.

Cancer can have a relentless grasp on many parts of a patient’s life, and Bristol Myers Squibb is committed to taking actions to address all aspects of care, from diagnosis to survivorship. As a leader in cancer care, Bristol Myers Squibb is working to empower all people with cancer to have a better future.

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 September 2015, the Company’s Opdivo and Yervoy combination regimen was the first Immuno-Oncology to receive regulatory approval for the treatment of metastatic melanoma and is currently approved in more than 50 countries, including the United States and the European Union.

INDICATIONS

OPDIVO® (nivolumab), as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with unresectable or metastatic melanoma.

OPDIVO® (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY® (ipilimumab), is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with unresectable or metastatic melanoma.

OPDIVO® is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older with completely resected Stage IIB, Stage IIC, Stage III, or Stage IV melanoma.

OPDIVO® (nivolumab), in combination with platinum-doublet chemotherapy, is indicated as neoadjuvant treatment of adult patients with resectable (tumors ≥4 cm or node positive) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

OPDIVO® (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY® (ipilimumab), is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors express PD-L1 (≥1%) as determined by an FDA-approved test, with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations.

OPDIVO® (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY® (ipilimumab) and 2 cycles of platinum-doublet chemotherapy, is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with metastatic or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations.

OPDIVO® (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of adult 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), in combination with YERVOY® (ipilimumab), is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM).

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

OPDIVO® (nivolumab), in combination with cabozantinib, is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

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

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 adult 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 adult 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.

OPDIVO® (nivolumab), as a single agent, is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of adult patients with urothelial carcinoma (UC) who are at high risk of recurrence after undergoing radical resection of UC.

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), in combination with YERVOY® (ipilimumab), is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who have been previously treated with sorafenib. 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 the confirmatory trials.

OPDIVO® (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable advanced, recurrent or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) after prior fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-based chemotherapy.

OPDIVO® (nivolumab) is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of completely resected esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer with residual pathologic disease in adult patients who have received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT).

OPDIVO® (nivolumab), in combination with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy, is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

OPDIVO® (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY® (ipilimumab), is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

OPDIVO® (nivolumab), in combination with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum- containing chemotherapy, is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with advanced or metastatic gastric cancer, gastroesophageal junction cancer, and esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Please see US Full Prescribing Information for OPDIVO and YERVOY.

Clinical Trials and Patient Populations

Checkmate 227–previously untreated metastatic non–small cell lung cancer, in combination with YERVOY; Checkmate 9LA–previously untreated recurrent or metastatic non–small cell lung cancer in combination with YERVOY and 2 cycles of platinum–doublet chemotherapy by histology; Checkmate 649–previously untreated advanced or metastatic gastric cancer, gastroesophageal junction and esophageal adenocarcinoma; Checkmate 577–adjuvant treatment of esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer; Checkmate 238–adjuvant treatment of patients with completely resected Stage III or Stage IV melanoma; Checkmate 76K–adjuvant treatment of patients 12 years of age and older with completely resected Stage IIB or Stage IIC melanoma; Checkmate 274–adjuvant treatment of urothelial carcinoma; Checkmate 275–previously treated advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma; Checkmate 142–MSI–H or dMMR metastatic colorectal cancer, as a single agent or in combination with YERVOY; Checkmate 142–MSI–H or dMMR metastatic colorectal cancer, as a single agent or in combination with YERVOY; Attraction–3–esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; Checkmate 648—previously untreated, unresectable advanced recurrent or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; Checkmate 648–previously untreated, unresectable advanced recurrent or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; Checkmate 040–hepatocellular carcinoma, in combination with YERVOY; Checkmate 743–previously untreated unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma, in combination with YERVOY; 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 816–neoadjuvant non–small cell lung cancer, in combination with platinum–doublet chemotherapy; Checkmate 141–recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck; Checkmate 025–previously treated renal cell carcinoma; Checkmate 214–previously untreated renal cell carcinoma, in combination with YERVOY; Checkmate 9ER–previously untreated renal cell carcinoma, in combination with cabozantinib; Checkmate 205/039–classical Hodgkin lymphoma.

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, Facebook and Instagram.

SOURCE: Bristol Myers Squibb