Exelixis (EXEL), Bristol-Myers (BMY) : upbeat trial results of a Kidney cancer treatment

the companies said a phase 3 study of a treatment for kidney cancer met its primary and secondary endpoints. "The results from the pivotal CheckMate -9ER trial clearly demonstrate the combination of cabozantinib plus nivolumab provides a clinically meaningful benefit in the key efficacy measures of progression-free survival and overall survival for previously untreated kidney cancer patients," said Dr. Toni Choueiri, Director of the Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Bristol-Myers announces announced that CheckMate -743, a pivotal Phase 3 trial evaluating Opdivo (nivolumab) in combination with Yervoy in previously untreated malignant pleural mesothelioma met its primary endpoint of overall survival

Opdivo plus Yervoy prolonged survival compared to chemotherapy at interim analysis in CheckMate -743.
Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer with limited treatment options.
Based on a pre-specified interim analysis conducted by the independent Data Monitoring Committee, Opdivo in combination with Yervoy resulted in a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in OS compared to chemotherapy (pemetrexed and cisplatin or carboplatin).