FROM Sat, 01 Apr Opdivo (nivolumab) will be listed on the PBS for resected oesophageal cancer (OC) or gastro-oesophageal junction cancer (GOJC) in patients who have received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT).
Despite the poor prognosis for oesophageal adenocarcinoma (the Australian five-year survival rate is only 23%), there are currently no adjuvant treatment options available for these patients in the neoadjuvant setting.
As the first adjuvant immunotherapy to be reimbursed for this patient group, Opdivo is fulfilling a significant, unmet clinical need.
The PBS listing is supported by positive data from the Phase 3 Checkmate 577 trial, in which Opdivo treatment in OC and GOJC patients following trimodality therapy (neoadjuvant CRT and complete surgical resection) doubled the disease-free survival of oesophageal and gastro-oesophageal cancer patients, compared to placebo (22.4 vs 11.0 months).
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 30 Mar 23
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