In February 2017, the FDA approved Opdivo (nivolumab), anti-PD-1 immunotherapy, for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic bladder cancer (urothelial carcinoma) whose disease progressed during or after platinum-containing chemotherapy, or within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment with platinum-containing chemotherapy. Opdivo was previously approved for other types of cancer.
The study that led to the approval of Opdivo for patients with bladder cancer showed that 19.6% responded to Opdivo therapy: 7 patients achieved remission, and 46 had partial responses.
The most common side effects in this study with Opdivo included fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, nausea, and decreased appetite. For more information visit www.opdivoinformation.com.