(RxWiki News) The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma.
That new treatment is Opdivo (nivolumab), a monoclonal antibody. It was approved to treat Hodgkin lymphoma that has returned or has worsened despite receiving a bone marrow transplant and Adcetris (brentuximab vedotin) after the transplant.
Bristol-Myers Squibb's Opdivo was previously approved to treat melanoma (skin cancer), lung cancer and kidney cancer.
Opdivo gained accelerated approval after two clinical trials. One trial found that 65 percent of patients saw a response to treatment. In addition, 58 percent of patients saw a partial response, and 7 percent of patients' cancer disappeared. The median duration of the response was estimated at 8.7 months.
The dosing for this use of Opdivo is based on weight. Opdivo is administered into the vein by a health care provider every two weeks. Your health care provider will determine how long you will receive Opdivo.
Common side effects of Opdivo included fatigue, upper respiratory tract infection, cough, fever and diarrhea.
The FDA gave Opdivo a new warning regarding complications of a certain type of bone marrow transplant after Opdivo treatment.
A phase III trial will determine the continued approval of Opdivo in treating Hodgkin lymphoma, according to the FDA.
