OPDIVO Qvantig® (nivolumab + hyaluronidase-nvhy) is approved as a subcutaneous injection
For the treatment of 1L unresectable or metastatic HCC1,2
When your patients have
milestones in mind,
Extend the possibilities of durable survival with OPDIVO® + YERVOY®1,2*
31% of patients alive at 4 years3†
Extended analysis‡: HR=0.78 (95% CI: 0.65, 0.93)3
*In the Checkmate 9DW primary analysis, mOS with OPDIVO + YERVOY (n=335) was 23.7 mos (95% Cl: 18.8, 29.4) vs 20.6 mos (95% Cl: 17.5, 22.5) with investigator’s choice of lenvatinib/sorafenib (n=333); primary analysis: HR=0.79 (95% Cl: 0.65, 0.96); P=0.0180. Median follow-up of 35.2 months (range: 26.8–48.9).1,2
†Vs 18% of patients alive at 4 years with investigator's choice of lenvatinib/sorafenib.3
‡Median follow-up: 52.5 months (range: 44.0–66.1).3
Actor portrayal.
INDICATIONS
- OPDIVO® (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY® (ipilimumab), is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
- OPDIVO QVANTIG® (nivolumab and hyaluronidase-nvhy), as monotherapy, is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following treatment with intravenous nivolumab and ipilimumab combination therapy.
Limitations of Use: OPDIVO QVANTIG is not indicated in combination with ipilimumab for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic HCC.
CHECKMATE 9DW: 1L TREATMENT OF ADULT PATIENTS WITH UNRESECTABLE OR METASTATIC HCC
The only FDA-approved treatment to show positive results vs investigator’s choice of lenvatinib or sorafenib1,2*†
Checkmate 9DW was a global, phase 3, randomized, open-label trial1
STUDY DESIGN1,2,4
85% of patients in the comparator arm were treated with lenvatinib2
*Positive results inclusive of OS and ORR.2 †Study was not designed to independently compare OPDIVO + YERVOY vs lenvatinib or OPDIVO + YERVOY vs sorafenib. ‡Disease not eligible for, or progressive disease after, curative surgical and/or locoregional therapies.1 §Based on central lab serology results for stratification purpose.4; ||Minimum of 1 dose of OPDIVO + YERVOY is required before proceeding to OPDIVO monotherapy.1; ¶If body weight <60 kg.2 #If body weight ≥60 kg.2 **Among 325 patients treated with lenvatinib/sorafenib: 275 (85%) received lenvatinib and 50 (15%) received sorafenib.1 ††Based on HCS subscale score of the FACT-Hep.1 ‡‡Time between randomization date and cutoff date.4
1L=first line; AFP=alpha-fetoprotein; BICR=blinded independent central review; bid=twice daily; DOR=duration of response; ECOG PS=Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status; EGD=esophagogastroduodenoscopy; EHS=extrahepatic spread; FACT-Hep=Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Hepatic; HBV=hepatitis B virus; HCC=hepatocellular carcinoma; HCS=hepatobiliary cancer subscale; HCV=hepatitis C virus; HRQOL=health-related quality of life; IV=intravenous; MVI=macroscopic vascular invasion; ORR=overall response rate; OS=overall survival; PFS=progression-free survival; PO=orally; qd=every day; q3w=every 3 weeks; q4w=every 4 weeks; R=randomized; RECIST=Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors; TTR=time to response.
Durable survival and deeper responses with OPDIVO + YERVOY1-3*†
OS rate at primary analysis (median follow-up time of 35.2 months)1
- OPDIVO + YERVOY: 38% at 3 years
- Lenvatinib/sorafenib: 24% at 3 years
Median OS at primary analysis (median follow-up time of 35.2 months)1,2
- OPDIVO + YERVOY: 23.7 months (95% CI: 18.8, 29.4)
- Lenvatinib/sorafenib: 20.6 months (95% CI: 17.5, 22.5)
- HR=0.79 (95% CI: 0.65, 0.96); P=0.01804**
ORR at primary analysis (median follow-up time of 35.2 months)1,2
- OPDIVO + YERVOY: 36% (n=335; 95% CI: 31, 42)
- Lenvatinib/sorafenib: 13% (95% CI: 10, 17)
- P<0.0001††
Median DOR at primary analysis (median follow-up time of 35.2 months)1,2
- OPDIVO + YERVOY: 30.4 months (n=121; 95% CI: 21.2, NR)#
- Lenvatinib/sorafenib: 12.9 months (95% CI: 10.2, 31.2)
*Vs investigator’s choice of lenvatinib/sorafenib.2 †Study was not designed to independently compare OPDIVO + YERVOY vs lenvatinib or OPDIVO + YERVOY vs sorafenib. ‡Investigator’s choice.2 §Responses achieved in ORR and DOR assessed by BICR based on RECIST v1.1.2 ‖ORR includes CR (primary analysis: 7% vs 2%; extended analysis: 8% vs 2%) and PR (primary analysis: 29% vs 11%; extended analysis: 28% vs 11%).2,3 ¶DOR is not included in the statistical hierarchies, and therefore its result is not a powered endpoint. #Number of confirmed responders.3 **Two-sided P value from stratified log-rank test. Boundary for statistical significance: P≤0.0257.4 ††Two-sided P value from stratified Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test. Boundary for statistical significance: P≤0.025.2
CI=confidence interval; CR=complete response; HR=hazard ratio; NR=not reached; PR=partial response.
In the 1L treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HCC1,2
Nivolumab (OPDIVO®) + ipilimumab (YERVOY®): a National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®) first-line therapy recommendation for unresectable or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)5*†
NCCN Category 1,
Preferred
Nivolumab (OPDIVO) + ipilimumab (YERVOY) is recommended as a Category 1, preferred first-line systemic therapy option for patients with unresectable or metastatic HCC.5*†‡
- Category 1: Based upon high-level evidence (≥1 randomized phase 3 trials or high-quality, robust meta analyses), there is uniform NCCN consensus (≥85% support of the Panel) that the intervention is appropriate.5
NCCN supports the substitution of nivolumab (OPDIVO) monotherapy with nivolumab + hyaluronidase-nvhy (OPDIVO Qvantig®) for unresectable or metastatic HCC5*†§
Substitution of nivolumab with nivolumab + hyaluronidase-nvhy only applies after combination therapy has been completed.1
Please see updated NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines® for a complete listing of all NCCN-recommended agents, including preferred options.
NCCN makes no warranties of any kind whatsoever regarding their content, use or application and disclaims any responsibility for their application or use in any way.
*Liver-confined, unresectable disease, and deemed ineligible for transplant.5 †Extrahepatic/metastatic disease, and deemed ineligible for resection, transplant, or locoregional therapy.5 ‡Counsel regarding risk of immune-mediated toxicity and increased incidence of early death during the first 6 months of treatment based on Checkmate 9DW trial. The Checkmate 9DW trial showed improved overall survival with the combination of ipilimumab plus nivolumab compared to lenvatinib or sorafenib, though there was a higher rate of death in the ipilimumab plus nivolumab arm during the first 6 months, and 29% of patients required high-dose steroids due to immune-mediated adverse events for the combination arm.5,10 §Nivolumab and hyaluronidase-nvhy is not approved for concurrent use with IV ipilimumab; however, for nivolumab monotherapy, nivolumab and hyaluronidase-nvhy subcutaneous injection may be substituted for IV nivolumab. Nivolumab and hyaluronidase-nvhy has different dosing and administration instructions compared to IV nivolumab.5
Select Important Safety Information
Serious Adverse Reactions
In Checkmate 9DW, serious adverse reactions occurred in 53% of patients receiving OPDIVO with YERVOY (n=332). The most frequent non liver-related serious adverse reactions reported in ≥2% of patients who received OPDIVO with YERVOY were diarrhea/colitis (4.5%), gastrointestinal hemorrhage (3%), and rash (2.4%). Liver-related serious adverse reactions occurred in 17% of patients receiving OPDIVO with YERVOY, including Grade 3-4 events in 16% of patients. The most frequently reported all grade liver-related serious adverse reactions occurring in ≥1% of patients who received OPDIVO with YERVOY were immune-mediated hepatitis (3%), increased AST/ALT (3%), hepatic failure (2.4%), ascites (2.4%), and hepatotoxicity (1.2%). Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 12 (3.6%) patients who received OPDIVO with YERVOY; these included 4 (1.2%) patients who died due to immune-mediated or autoimmune hepatitis and 4 (1.2%) patients who died of hepatic failure.
Common Adverse Reactions
In Checkmate 9DW, the most common adverse reactions (≥20%) in patients receiving OPDIVO with YERVOY (n=332) were rash (36%), pruritus (34%), fatigue (33%), and diarrhea (25%).
Please see additional Important Safety Information below.
Durable survival with OPDIVO + YERVOY1-3*
31% of patients alive at 4 years3†
OVERALL SURVIVAL (OS)3
Median follow-up: 52.5 months (range: 44.0–66.1).3
OS rate at primary analysis (median follow-up time of 35.2 months)1
- OPDIVO + YERVOY: 38% at 3 years
- Lenvatinib/sorafenib: 24% at 3 years
Median OS at primary analysis (median follow-up time of 35.2 months)1,2
- OPDIVO + YERVOY: 23.7 months (95% CI: 18.8, 29.4)
- Lenvatinib/sorafenib: 20.6 months (95% CI: 17.5, 22.5)
- HR=0.79 (95% CI: 0.65, 0.96); P=0.0180
Median OS at extended analysis3
- OPDIVO + YERVOY: 23.7 months (95% CI: 18.8, 29.4)
- Lenvatinib/sorafenib: 20.6 months (95% CI: 17.7, 22.5)
- HR=0.78 (95% CI: 0.65, 0.93)
*Study was not designed to independently compare OPDIVO + YERVOY vs lenvatinib or OPDIVO + YERVOY vs sorafenib. †Vs investigator's choice of lenvatinib or sorafenib.2 ‡Median OS is estimated using Kaplan-Meier methodology. HR and 95% CI from stratified Cox proportional hazard model. HR is OPDIVO + YERVOY vs lenvatinib/sorafenib.4 §Investigator's choice.2 ||Two-sided P-value from stratified log-rank test. Boundary for statistical significance: P≤0.0257.4
Deeper response with OPDIVO + YERVOY2,3*†
36% of patients achieved a response vs 13% with lenvatinib or sorafenib at 4 years3‡§
OVERALL RESPONSE RATE (ORR) (SECONDARY ENDPOINT)3
Median follow-up: 52.5 months (range: 44.0–66.1).3
- OPDIVO + YERVOY demonstrated a statistically significant improvement (P<0.0001) in ORR vs lenvatinib or sorafenib (primary analysis)4‡
- Median TTR (exploratory endpoint) was 2.2 months (range: 1.1–41.7) for OPDIVO + YERVOY and 3.7 months (range: 0.6–8.0) for lenvatinib or sorafenib3,6‡||¶
*Vs investigator’s choice of lenvatinib/sorafenib.2 †Study was not designed to independently compare OPDIVO + YERVOY vs lenvatinib or OPDIVO + YERVOY vs sorafenib. ‡Investigator’s choice.2 §ORR was a secondary endpoint in Checkmate 9DW; assessed by BICR based on RECIST v1.1.||Two-sided P value from stratified Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test. Boundary for statistical significance: P≤0.025.2 ¶Median TTR in confirmed responders (OPDIVO + YERVOY: n=122; lenvatinib/sorafenib: n=44).3
Longer responses with OPDIVO + YERVOY1-4,7*†
Responses lasting more than twice as long at 4 years3,7*
DURATION OF RESPONSE (DOR)3,7
Median follow-up: 52.5 months (range: 44.0–66.1).3
*Vs investigator’s choice of lenvatinib/sorafenib.2 †Study was not designed to independently compare OPDIVO + YERVOY vs lenvatinib or OPDIVO + YERVOY vs sorafenib. ‡DOR was a secondary endpoint in Checkmate 9DW; assessed by BICR per RECIST v1.1.1 Duration of response (DOR) is not included in the statistical hierarchical testing, and therefore is not a powered endpoint. §Number of confirmed responders.1,3 ||Investigator’s choice.2
Baseline characteristics1,8
Data shown as n (%) unless otherwise noted.
*Investigator’s choice.2 †Included Europe, North America, and the rest of the world.1 ‡HBV and HCV categories include both subjects with active and past/resolved infection. Seven patients in the OPDIVO + YERVOY arm and 3 patients in the lenvatinib/sorafenib arm were reported as having both HBV and HCV as risk factors for HCC; these patients did not have active co-infection with HBV and HCV.4 §Score 8: OPDIVO + YERVOY, n=1. Score not reported: lenvatinib/sorafenib, n=1.8 ||These patients represent protocol deviations and those who advanced to a Child-Pugh score of 7 at the time of first dose.1 ¶Not reported: lenvatinib/sorafenib, n=1.1 #Unknown: lenvatinib/sorafenib, n=3.1
BCLC=Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer; LEN=lenvatinib; SOR=sorafenib.
Up to 4 induction doses with OPDIVO + YERVOY, followed by monotherapy maintenance with OPDIVO Qvantig2,9
OPDIVO is still available as an IV infusion option in the monotherapy maintenance phase. View OPDIVO IV dosing schedule >
- In Checkmate 9DW, patients who discontinued combination therapy because of an adverse reaction attributed to YERVOY were permitted to continue intravenous OPDIVO as a single agent2||
INDICATION: OPDIVO Qvantig, as monotherapy, is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following treatment with intravenous nivolumab and ipilimumab combination therapy.
Limitations of Use: OPDIVO Qvantig is not indicated in combination with ipilimumab for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic HCC.
*OPDIVO is administered as a 30-minute IV infusion in both the induction (maximum of 4 doses) and maintenance phases. OPDIVO IV monotherapy is also an available option in the maintenance phase following short-term induction.2 †YERVOY is administered as a 30-minute IV infusion following OPDIVO IV over 30 minutes on the same day.2 ‡OPDIVO Qvantig is administered as a 3–5 minutes subcutaneous injection.9 Recommended administration time is 3–5 minutes and does not include other aspects of treatment. Actual clinic time may vary. Must be administered by a healthcare professional.9 ‖Minimum of 1 dose of OPDIVO + YERVOY is required before proceeding to OPDIVO Qvantig monotherapy.1
Safety Data
View a selected safety profile of adverse reactions seen in clinical trials.
Dosing Schedule
Find dosing information to get patients started on therapy.
HCP & Patient Resources
Find useful resources for both you and your patients from the first dose forward.
References:
- Kudo M, Yau T, Decaens T, et al. Nivolumab plus ipilimumab vs lenvatinib or sorafenib as first-line therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: CheckMate 9DW expanded analyses. Oral presentation at ASCO-GI 2025. Abstract 520.
- OPDIVO [package insert]. Princeton, NJ: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.
- Galle PR, Sangro B, Decaens T, et al. Nivolumab plus ipilimumab vs lenvatinib or sorafenib as first-line treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: 4-year follow-up of CheckMate 9DW. Oral presentation at ASCO GI 2026. Abstract LBA479.
- Galle PR, Decaens T, Kudo M, et al. Nivolumab plus ipilimumab vs lenvatinib or sorafenib as first-line treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: first results from CheckMate 9DW. Oral presentation at ASCO 2024. Abstract LBA4008.
- Referenced with permission from the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) for Hepatocellular Carcinoma V.1.2026. © National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. 2026. All rights reserved. Accessed March 12, 2026. To view the most recent and complete version of the guideline, go online to NCCN.org. NCCN makes no warranties of any kind whatsoever regarding their content, use or application and disclaims any responsibility for their application or use in any way.
- Data on file. BMS-REF-NIVO-0335. Princeton, NJ: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company; 2025.
- Data on file. BMS-REF-NIVO-0374. Princeton, NJ: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company; 2025
- Decaens T, Yau T, Kudo M, et al. Nivolumab plus ipilimumab vs lenvatinib or sorafenib as first-line treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: expanded analyses from CheckMate 9DW. Oral presentation at ESMO 2024. Abstract 965MO.
- OPDIVO Qvantig [package insert]. Princeton, NJ: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.
- Yau T, Galle PR, Decaens T, et al. Nivolumab plus ipilimumab versus lenvatinib or sorafenib as first-line treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (CheckMate 9DW): an open-label, randomised, phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2025;405(10492):1851-1864.