US-FDA & EMA accepts Bristol Myers regulatory filings

US FDA & EMA accepts Bristol Myers’ regulatory filings for neoadjuvant Opdivo and chemotherapy followed by surgery and adjuvant Opdivo in resectable NSCLC

Bristol Myers Squibb announced two regulatory acceptances for applications for neoadjuvant Opdivo (nivolumab) with chemotherapy followed by surgery and adjuvant Opdivo for the perioperative treatment of resectable stage IIA to IIIB non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) accepted the supplemental Biologics Application (sBLA) and assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date of October 8, 2024. In late January, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) validated the type II variation application which confirms the submission is complete and begins the start of the EMA's centralized review process.

"Between 30% to 55% of non-small cell lung cancer patients who undergo surgery will experience disease recurrence. We are working to expand options that improve outcomes for patients with resectable disease, as part of our comprehensive approach to the treatment of multiple types of cancer, including and especially in earlier stages,” said Abderrahim Oukessou, M.D., vice president, thoracic cancers global program lead, Bristol Myers Squibb. “With CheckMate -77T, we have evaluated the potential for neoadjuvant immunotherapy to induce pathological complete response and the role of perioperative Opdivo treatment in reducing the likelihood that the cancer will return and help make extended survival possible for patients. The acceptance of these applications underscores our impactful progress in addressing unmet needs across several non-small cell lung cancer treatment settings and brings us one step closer to offering a new perioperative Opdivo-based regimen to patients who may benefit."

The submissions were based on results from the phase 3 CheckMate -77T trial, which represents the company’s second positive Phase 3 randomized trial with an immunotherapy-based combination for the treatment of resectable NSCLC, showing statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in event-free survival (EFS), the study’s primary endpoint. The study also showed benefits in key secondary endpoints including pathologic complete response (pCR) and major pathologic response (MPR). Additionally, the perioperative regimen had a safety profile consistent with previously reported studies in NSCLC and no new safety signals were identified. The EFS, pCR and MPR results from CheckMate -77T were presented at the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2023. The study remains ongoing to assess another secondary endpoint of overall survival (OS).

Opdivo and Opdivo-based combinations have shown efficacy benefits in the neoadjuvant, adjuvant or perioperative settings across four cancers to date, including lung cancer, bladder cancer, esophageal/gastroesophageal junction cancer and melanoma.

CheckMate -77T is a phase 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center trial evaluating neoadjuvant Opdivo with chemotherapy followed by surgery and adjuvant Opdivo versus neoadjuvant chemotherapy and placebo followed by surgery and adjuvant placebo in 452 patients with resectable stage IIA to IIIB non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The primary endpoint of the trial is event-free survival (EFS). Secondary endpoints include overall survival (OS), pathologic complete response (pCR) and major pathologic response (MPR).

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths globally. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most common types of lung cancer, representing up to 84% of diagnoses. Non-metastatic cases account for the majority of NSCLC diagnoses (approximately 60%, with up to half of these being resectable), and the proportion is expected to grow over time with enhanced screening programs. While many non-metastatic NSCLC patients are cured by surgery, 30% to 55% develop recurrence and die of their disease despite resection, contributing to a need for treatment options administered before surgery (neoadjuvant) and/or after surgery (adjuvant) to improve long-term outcomes.

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.

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-tumour 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 tumour types. To date, the Opdivo clinical development programme 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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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