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FDA Approves Opdivo and Yervoy Combination
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FDA Approves Opdivo and Yervoy Combination

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › FDA Approves Opdivo and Yervoy Combination

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      • October 1, 2015 at 1:27 pm
      rosa1
      Participant

        This is great news but is this only for patients with untreated advanced melanoma? What about the rest of us who may want to try this combination drugs if the current monotherapy we are using is no longer effective?

          • October 1, 2015 at 2:17 pm
          Hayden30
          Participant

            I agree! I've been anxiously awaiting this combo approval while on my BRAF drugs, is there anyway insurance might cover this for people that have done Yervoy or nivo alone previously? 

            • October 1, 2015 at 2:17 pm
            Hayden30
            Participant

              I agree! I've been anxiously awaiting this combo approval while on my BRAF drugs, is there anyway insurance might cover this for people that have done Yervoy or nivo alone previously? 

              • October 1, 2015 at 2:17 pm
              Hayden30
              Participant

                I agree! I've been anxiously awaiting this combo approval while on my BRAF drugs, is there anyway insurance might cover this for people that have done Yervoy or nivo alone previously? 

                • October 1, 2015 at 5:12 pm
                Tim–MRF
                Guest

                  I think insurance will be open to covering the combination even after monotherapy, but it may depend on the monotherapy.

                  If you are currently on ipi, or close to the last infusion, then I suspect most doctors would recommend going with anti-PD1 as monotherapy. If it is targeted therapy you should have no trouble at all. If you have been on anti-PD1 the picture is less clear. 

                  This approval is based on a study of the combination in comparison to ipi, and only in patients who are BRAF wild-type. Another study is underway comparing ipi vs. nivo vs. the combination, and patients in the study regardless of BRAF status. The FDA hearing for that study is not until January, but the early data is already published. Based on that data, I don't believe the insurance companies will balk at paying for the combination regardless of BRAF status.

                  If you and your treatment team feel that the combination is the best next step and are getting pushback from the insurance company the company has programs that can help you navigate those waters.

                   

                  Tim–MRF

                   

                   

                  • October 2, 2015 at 12:14 am
                  JoshF
                  Participant

                    Tim-

                    what if you responded to ipi, been clear for awhile and then recur. I think it would be advantageous to receive combo. Is insurance the barrier to receiving combo?

                    Josh

                    • October 2, 2015 at 12:14 am
                    JoshF
                    Participant

                      Tim-

                      what if you responded to ipi, been clear for awhile and then recur. I think it would be advantageous to receive combo. Is insurance the barrier to receiving combo?

                      Josh

                      • October 2, 2015 at 12:14 am
                      JoshF
                      Participant

                        Tim-

                        what if you responded to ipi, been clear for awhile and then recur. I think it would be advantageous to receive combo. Is insurance the barrier to receiving combo?

                        Josh

                        • October 1, 2015 at 5:12 pm
                        Tim–MRF
                        Guest

                          I think insurance will be open to covering the combination even after monotherapy, but it may depend on the monotherapy.

                          If you are currently on ipi, or close to the last infusion, then I suspect most doctors would recommend going with anti-PD1 as monotherapy. If it is targeted therapy you should have no trouble at all. If you have been on anti-PD1 the picture is less clear. 

                          This approval is based on a study of the combination in comparison to ipi, and only in patients who are BRAF wild-type. Another study is underway comparing ipi vs. nivo vs. the combination, and patients in the study regardless of BRAF status. The FDA hearing for that study is not until January, but the early data is already published. Based on that data, I don't believe the insurance companies will balk at paying for the combination regardless of BRAF status.

                          If you and your treatment team feel that the combination is the best next step and are getting pushback from the insurance company the company has programs that can help you navigate those waters.

                           

                          Tim–MRF

                           

                           

                          • October 1, 2015 at 5:12 pm
                          Tim–MRF
                          Guest

                            I think insurance will be open to covering the combination even after monotherapy, but it may depend on the monotherapy.

                            If you are currently on ipi, or close to the last infusion, then I suspect most doctors would recommend going with anti-PD1 as monotherapy. If it is targeted therapy you should have no trouble at all. If you have been on anti-PD1 the picture is less clear. 

                            This approval is based on a study of the combination in comparison to ipi, and only in patients who are BRAF wild-type. Another study is underway comparing ipi vs. nivo vs. the combination, and patients in the study regardless of BRAF status. The FDA hearing for that study is not until January, but the early data is already published. Based on that data, I don't believe the insurance companies will balk at paying for the combination regardless of BRAF status.

                            If you and your treatment team feel that the combination is the best next step and are getting pushback from the insurance company the company has programs that can help you navigate those waters.

                             

                            Tim–MRF

                             

                             

                          • October 1, 2015 at 1:27 pm
                          rosa1
                          Participant

                            This is great news but is this only for patients with untreated advanced melanoma? What about the rest of us who may want to try this combination drugs if the current monotherapy we are using is no longer effective?

                            • October 1, 2015 at 1:27 pm
                            rosa1
                            Participant

                              This is great news but is this only for patients with untreated advanced melanoma? What about the rest of us who may want to try this combination drugs if the current monotherapy we are using is no longer effective?

                              • October 1, 2015 at 6:30 pm
                              Andrew1725
                              Participant

                                What about previous Inteferon treatment?

                                • October 1, 2015 at 6:30 pm
                                Andrew1725
                                Participant

                                  What about previous Inteferon treatment?

                                  • October 1, 2015 at 6:30 pm
                                  Andrew1725
                                  Participant

                                    What about previous Inteferon treatment?

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