Bristol Myers Squibb Receives European Commission Approval for LAG-3-Blocking Antibody Combination, Opdualag (nivolumab and relatlimab), for the Treatment of Unresectable or Metastatic Melanoma with Tumor Cell PD-L1 Expression < 1%

Bristol Myers Squibb announced that the European Commission (EC) has approved the fixed-dose combination of Opdualag (nivolumab and relatlimab) for the first-line treatment of advanced (unresectable or metastatic) melanoma in adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older with tumor cell PD-L1 expression < 1%.

The EC’s decision is based upon an exploratory analysis of results from the Phase 2/3 RELATIVITY-047 trial in patients with tumor cell expression < 1%, which demonstrated that treatment with the fixed-dose combination of the PD-1 inhibitor nivolumab and novel LAG-3-blocking antibody relatlimab more than doubled the median progression-free survival (PFS) compared to nivolumab monotherapy – an established standard of care. No new safety events were identified with the combination when compared to nivolumab monotherapy.

“Opdualag is now the first approved LAG-3-blocking antibody combination for advanced melanoma in the European Union. The RELATIVITY-047 study demonstrated the important benefit of inhibiting both LAG-3 and PD-L1 with our novel immunotherapy combination,” said Samit Hirawat, M.D., executive vice president, chief medical officer, Global Drug Development, Bristol Myers Squibb. “This is a continuation of our work in bringing innovative medicines to adults and adolescents living with melanoma. Thank you to all of the patients, researchers and physicians who contributed to these advancements and made today’s approval possible.”

The EC decision allows for the use of Opdualag for the first-line treatment of adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older with advanced melanoma and tumor cell PD-L1 expression < 1% in all European Union member states*, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.