Immuno-Oncology

A phase III trial evaluating the efficacy of nivolumab (Opdivo) for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma has been stopped early after the immunotherapy agent demonstrated a survival advantage over the comparator drug, everolimus (Afinitor), in the CheckMate-025 trial.

Advances in precision medicine for the treatment of melanoma include novel small-molecule inhibitors targeting signal transduction pathways in BRAF and NRAS mutations and cutting-edge drugs in the area of immune-modulation, whereby the patient's own immune system is mobilized to attack the tumor.

Immunotherapy has become an increasingly appealing therapeutic strategy for patients with cancer, with many late-stage clinical trials demonstrating overall survival (OS) advantages in melanoma and castration-resistant prostate cancer.