Bristol Myers Squibb’s (BMS) Opdivo (nivolumab)-Yervoy (ipilimumab) combination did not significantly improve overall survival for head and neck cancer patients in a late-stage trial.

The phase 3 study compared the Opdivo-Yervoy combination against a chemotherapy regimen (cetuximab, cisplatin/carboplatin and fluorouracil) as a first-line therapy for patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma.

Despite the disappointing results, BMS still sees strong potential for Opdivo-Yervoy for other indications, noting that the combination significantly improved survival in six phase 3 trials for five other cancers.