Bristol Myers Squibb Wins EU Approval for Opdivo, First Lymphoma Immunotherapy Combo

The European Commission approved Bristol Myers Squibb’s Opdivo in combination with AVD chemotherapy (doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine). This regimen is indicated for the first-line treatment of Stage III or IV classical Hodgkin lymphoma. The approval applies to adults and adolescents aged 12 and older.

This marks the first immunotherapy-based combination approved for this patient population in the European Union. The decision follows a U.S. FDA approval granted in March 2026.

The Phase 3 SWOG S1826 trial demonstrated that the combination significantly reduced the risk of disease progression or death. The Opdivo regimen outperformed the previous standard of care in the clinical study.