Opdivo® plus Yervoy® approved by the MHRA for inoperable malignant pleural mesothelioma

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have approved Opdivo® (nivolumab) plus Yervoy® (ipilimumab) for first-line treatment of inoperable pleural mesothelioma (MPM) in the UK. Pleural mesothelioma is rare but devastating cancer affecting the pleural tissue covering the lungs. Construction and industry workers are at greater risk of developing MPM as asbestos exposure is implicated in 80% of cases. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma often appear 30−50 years after exposure resulting in late diagnosis, poor prognosis and limited treatment options. “The approval of nivolumab plus ipilimumab is the first drug approval for mesothelioma since 2004 and will potentially improve survival...