Injectable Immunotherapy: The Potential Impact For Patients From The New FDA Opdivo Approval: A Conversation With Wendy Short Bartie of Bristol-Myers Squibb

The reason for the conversation was the new FDA approval for nivolumab, known by the brand name Opdivo, in the form of a subcutaneous shot. Opdivo has truly revolutionized treatment in melanoma and is a mainstay treatment in lung cancer.

What is interesting about this approval is that “it’s delivered in a three- to five-minute subcutaneous injection versus a 30-minute delivery that comes with the infusion,” said Bartie. This specific approval “is the first and only PD-1 that has been approved as a subcutaneous option for patients.”

According to Bartie, what is potentially interesting about this treatment option is that “it allows cancer treatment to happen in a shorter period of time”, in turn “alleviating some of the issues for the working poor who are not from substantial economic means.”

Focus on Community Care

For Bartie, the job and the mission are personal as she’s had to deal with cancer in her own family. “I know my parents benefited from innovation and I want to make sure people who find themselves in the same situation I found myself in, have access to the education, the thought leaders, community doctors and resources that can help them make informed decisions that ultimately can save their lives.”

With approximately 80% of cancer patients receiving treatment in community settings rather than major academic medical centers, Bartie emphasizes the crucial role of the pharmaceutical industry in supporting local healthcare providers and oncologists. “It’s incredibly important that the pharmaceutical industry continues to be a strong partner with community oncologists, given the fact that they are at the frontline of defense in treating the vast majority of these patients.” For many patients, community medicine is the only choice, and excellent care is available in this setting. Still, there are many community oncologists who tell SurvivorNet they struggle to keep up with the latest treatments and the knowledge needed to deploy them. We do note that the idea of a widely used drug delivered in the form of a shot has had some success in multiple myeloma with the subcanteous formulation of daratumumab.

Could Injectable Immunotherapy Mean Better Care?

Looking ahead, Bartie envisions these improvements transforming the quality of patient care and community support. She emphasizes that faster administration times will allow healthcare providers to focus on what matters most: meaningful patient interactions and comprehensive care planning.

“We hope these innovations will allow doctors and nurses to spend more time coaching and counseling patients,” Bartie explained. But her vision extends beyond the clinic walls. She stressed the importance of strengthening the broader support ecosystem, particularly through the advocacy community, which she describes as “the linchpin and nexus of education and support for our patients.”

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