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news.The European Medicines Agency (EMA) validated Bristol-Myers Squibb's (BMS) type II variation application, which seeks to extend the current indications for Opdivo to include the treatment of locally advanced unresectable or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) in adults after failure of prior platinum-containing therapy.
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Validation of the application confirms the submission is complete and begins the EMA’s centralized review process.
Fouad Namouni, M.D., head of development, Oncology, Bristol-Myers Squibb, said: “The high frequency of metastatic urothelial carcinoma and its relapsing nature highlight the substantial need for new treatment approaches with high and durable responses.
“We look forward to working with the EMA to potentially extend the use of Opdivo and bring the science of Immuno-Oncology to help patients in Europe fight this difficult-to-treat, advanced form of bladder cancer.”
The application primarily included data from CheckMate -275, a Phase 2, open-label, single-arm study assessing the safety and efficacy of Opdivo in patients with locally advanced unresectable or mUC that has progressed after a platinum-containing therapy.
The primary endpoint in CheckMate -275 trial is objective response rate, and additional efficacy measures included durability of response and overall survival. Data from this study will be presented at the 2016 European Society for Medical Oncology Congress.
About Bladder Cancer
Bladder cancer, which typically begins in the cells that line the inside of the bladder, is the fifth most commonly diagnosed cancer in Europe, with an estimated 151,000 new cases diagnosed per year and over 52,000 deaths per year. Urothelial carcinoma is the most common type of bladder cancer, accounting for approximately 90% of cases.
The majority of bladder cancers are diagnosed at an early stage, but rates of recurrence and progression are high, and approximately 78% of patients will experience a recurrence within five years. Survival rates vary depending on the stage and type of the cancer and when it is diagnosed. For Stage IV bladder cancer, the five-year survival rate is 15%.