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Bristol-Myers Offers Updates from Opdivo Combination Trials

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Large-cap pharma stock, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMY - Free Report) has come up with updates on its pipeline. The company announced preliminary data from a phase I/II open-label study, CheckMate-032, on Opdivo, in combination with Yervoy, for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) in patients who have been previously treated with platinum-based therapy.

Data demonstrated a confirmed objective response rate of 38.5% in patients who received Opdivo (1 mg/kg) plus Yervoy (3 mg/kg). Moreover, the regimen revealed promising efficacy and safety results with no new safety signals being identified. In addition, findings supported further development of the combination regimen in patients with mUC.

Results from the study were presented at the annual meeting and associated programs of the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC).

Bristol-Myers also presented safety and efficacy data from a phase I/II study on urelumab, in combination with Opdivo, for the treatment of patients with hematologic and solid tumors (such as advanced/metastatic melanoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, non-small cell lung cancer, squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck/SCCHN, and other tumors), including biomarker analyses by the level of PD-L1 expression.

Findings from the study suggested increased antitumor effect in patients with melanoma, in both PD-L1 expressors and non-expressors, with an objective response rate (ORR) of 50% and a disease control rate of 70%. In addition, no significant added toxicity over Opdivo monotherapy was observed.

Meanwhile, Bristol-Myers and Innate Pharma SA have announced an interim efficacy analysis of a phase I/II study on lirilumab, in combination with Opdivo, for the treatment of patients with advanced platinum refractory SCCHN.

Result revealed an encouraging clinical benefit of the combination with an ORR of 24% in patients with inflamed (PD-L1 positive) tumors, and an ORR of 41% in patients with ≥1% PD-L1 expression. Data from the study were presented at the congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO).

Zacks Rank & Key Picks

Bristol-Myers currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the health care sector include Anika Therapeutics Inc. (ANIK - Free Report) , Cambrex Corp. and Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (VNDA - Free Report) . Each stock sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Anika’s earnings estimates increased from $1.96 to $2.06 for 2016 and from $2.03 to $2.09 for 2017 over the last 60 days. The company has posted a positive surprise in all of the four trailing quarters with an average beat of 33.14%.

Vanda’s loss estimates narrowed from 68 cents to 56 cents for 2016 over the last 60 days, while its earnings estimates have increased from 16 cents to 17 cents for 2017. The company has posted a positive earnings surprise in three of the four trailing quarters with an average beat of 56.65%.

Cambrex’s earnings estimates have increased from $2.46 to $2.55 for 2016 and from $2.91 to $3.06 for 2017 over the last 60 days. The company has posted a positive earnings surprise in three of the trailing four quarters with an average beat of 19.78%.

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