Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) has won priority review for its Biologics License Application for the fixed-dose combination of the checkpoint inhibitors relatlimab and nivolumab to treat patients 12 and older who weigh at least 40 kg (88 pounds) with unresectable or metastatic melanoma.
Relatlimab would be a novel lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG-3) blocking antibody. The drug would be the third distinct checkpoint inhibitor from Princeton, New Jersey–based Bristol Myers Squibb to help appropriate patients.
Nivolumab, whose brand name is Opdivo, generated $6.9 billion in sales last year. The drug came in at slot 10 in our list of best-selling pharmaceuticals in 2020. Nivolumab targets programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1).
“Although we’ve seen significant advances in the treatment of melanoma since the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors, there remain patients who could benefit from a novel dual immunotherapy approach,” said Jonathan Che…