Bristol-Myers Squibb Partners With Ono Pharmaceutical On Immunotherapies In Asia

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMS) announced in a press release that it has partnered with Ono Pharmaceutical on immunotherapies in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. The two companies intend to develop and commercialize cancer agents in single or combination therapy. The initial focus will be on Opdivo (nivolumab) and Yervoy (ipilimumab) and extend to other immuno-oncology agents. The new partnership strengthens each company’s portfolio and improves clinical trials by opening up the patient base to those in three countries.  

Lamberto Andreotti, CEO of Bristol-Myers Squibb, said that the collaboration strengthens his company’s leadership in immuno-oncology. Gyo Sagara, President, Representative Director, and CEO of Ono, also commented, saying, “Our collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb strengthens our ability to further enhance the potential of Opdivo, for which Ono recently received manufacturing and marketing approval in Japan as the first PD-1 inhibitor approved anywhere in the world.”

BMS and Ono Agreement

Before this agreement, BMS held the rights to market Opdivo worldwide, except for Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan — countries in which Ono held the rights. BMS also held exclusive worldwide rights for Yervoy, lirilumab, urelumab, and BMS-986016. Under the terms of the agreement, the two companies will develop and market Opdivo, Yervoy, lirilumab, urelumab, and BMS-986016 globally. When Opdivo is combined with any BMS agent, BMS and Ono will share the development costs and commercial profits. When a BMS agent is used alone with another BMS compound, BMS is responsible for the majority of the costs and gains the majority of the profits. When Opdivo is used alone, Ono will fund develop costs and reap the majority of commercial profits.

Immunotherapies

Opdivo is a PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor, approved in Japan for unresectable melanoma. Opdivo is currently in 35 trials for other tumor types. Yervoy is a CTLA-4 immune checkpoint inhibitor, approved in Taiwan for advanced melanoma. The drug is also currently being investigated in trials for small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Lirilumab is designed to block the KIR receptor on natural killer cells. Urelumab is an agonist of the CD137 co-stimulatory receptor. BMS-986016 is a LAG3 immune checkpoint inhibitor.

In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave Opdivo Fast Track designation in 2013 and Breakthrough Therapy Designation in 2014. The FDA approved Yervoy in 2011 for unresectable or metastatic melanoma.