Posted by Michael Wonder on 09 Jul 2018
Only immuno-oncology combination therapy approved by Health Canada as first-line treatment for advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma
9 July 2018 - Opdivo (nivolumab) and Yervoy (ipilimumab) combination is the first and only treatment to show significantly superior overall survival versus current standard of care in intermediate- and poor-risk advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
BMS today announced that immuno-oncology (I-O) combination therapy Opdivo (nivolumab) 3mg/kg plus Yervoy (ipilimumab) 1mg/kg for intravenous injections, was approved by Health Canada for the treatment of adult patients with intermediate/poor-risk advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Immuno-oncology represents the most promising new cancer treatment approach since the development of the first chemotherapies.
According to the Canadian Kidney Cancer Forum consensus update 2017, I-O therapies will enhance the treatment landscape of RCC. Unlike traditional cancer therapies that target the tumour directly, immuno-oncology activates the body's own immune system to help recognise and attack cancer cells.
