Bristol Myers Squibb’s PD-1 inhibitor, OPDIVO, has deep roots in Japan. In July 2014, MHLW approved OPDIVO to treat melanoma, marking it the first approved PD-1 inhibitor globally. About two years later, KEYTRUDA gained approval in Japan for the same indications (melanoma and NSCLC). This set the stage for fierce competition between OPDIVO and KEYTRUDA, as both vied to become Japan’s top-selling PD-1 inhibitor.
Analyzing OPDIVO’s Pre-2022 Sales Decline and KEYTRUDA’s Market Ascendancy
KEYTRUDA and OPDIVO have received approval for 12 indications in Japan, with 8 of these indications being common to both drugs.
First approval of KEYTRUDA and OPDIVO...
