Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) has formed a global collaboration with ten leading cancer research institutions to develop drugs for immuno-oncology.

A unique global collaboration between industry and academia, the International Immuno-Oncology Network (II-ON) will focus on harnessing the body’s immune system to fight cancer.

II-ON will facilitate the translation of scientific research findings into drug discovery and development, clinical trials and new treatments.

As well as BMS, the network includes leading medical research institutions in Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, the US and the UK (the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and Institute of Cancer Research, London).

Elliott Sigal, executive VP, Chief Scientific Officer and President of Research and Development at BMS, described the II-ON as “a public-private partnership that will leverage intellectual capabilities across a global network,” with a shared commitment to developing “our understanding of immuno-oncology towards our ultimate goal of improving patient outcomes”.

In 2011 “evading immune destruction” was added to the ‘Hallmarks of Cancer’, a standard reference on the traits of malignant cancers.

BMS is developing a number of immunotherapeutic drugs for patients with different types of cancer.

Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) has received approval from the European Commission for Yervoy (ipilimumab), to treat patients with previously-treated advanced melanoma.

Yervoy, an immunotherapy, demonstrated long-term survival in patients with advanced melanoma in a randomised, double-blind Phase III study.

The new treatment uses immuno-oncology to indirectly target the tumour by stimulating the patient’s immune system to recognise and eliminate cancer cells.

Ron Cooper, President of Bristol-Myers Squibb Europe, stated: “The European Union approval of Yervoy is a milestone for patients with advanced disease and is the first outcome of Bristol-Myers Squibb's commitment to immuno-oncology.”

The one and two-year estimated survival rates for patients treated with Yervoy were 46% and 24% respectively.

BMS will now work with local health authorities to make Yervoy available across the European Union.

Prior to approval, BMS provided Yervoy to almost 3,000 patients throughout Europe through Compassionate Use/Named Patients Programmes.