Opdivo Qvantig (Nivolumab and Hyaluronidase-Nvhy) for Lung Cancer

Overview
Opdivo Qvantig is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as part of a treatment regimen for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in certain scenarios. These include use in combination with platinum-doublet chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant (presurgery) setting for individuals with resectable tumors and as a monotherapy after surgery in those with no known EGFR mutations (gene variations) or ALK rearrangements. It is also approved for metastatic NSCLC (cancer that has spread) in individuals whose disease has progressed following platinum-based chemotherapy. For individuals with EGFR or ALK mutations, progression on targeted therapies must occur before starting Opdivo Qvantig. Opdivo Qvantig is also known by its drug name, nivolumab and hyaluronidase-nvhy.

Opdivo Qvantig belongs to the category of immunotherapy treatments. Nivolumab blocks the PD-1 receptor, which helps the immune system detect and attack cancer cells, while hyaluronidase enhances the absorption and distribution of the medication when injected under the skin.

How do I take it?
Prescribing information states that Opdivo Qvantig is administered as a subcutaneous (under the skin) injection into the abdomen (stomach area) or thigh by a healthcare professional. For the neoadjuvant treatment of NSCLC, the medication is typically given along with platinum-doublet chemotherapy every three weeks for three cycles. Following surgery, single-agent Opdivo Qvantig is typically administered every four weeks for up to 13 cycles as adjuvant therapy. For metastatic NSCLC, the medication is typically administered every two weeks or four weeks, depending on dose size. Opdivo Qvantig should be administered exactly as prescribed by a healthcare provider.

Side effects
Common side effects of Opdivo Qvantig as a standalone therapy include  fatigue, rash, musculoskeletal pain, pruritus (itching), diarrhea, nausea, asthenia (weakness), cough, dyspnea (shortness of breath), constipation, decreased appetite, back pain, arthralgia (joint pain), upper respiratory tract infection, pyrexia (fever), headache, abdominal pain, vomiting, and urinary tract infection. Additional common side effects when combined with platinum-doublet chemotherapy for the neoadjuvant treatment of NSCLC include nausea, constipation, fatigue, decreased appetite, and rash.

Rare but serious side effects may include immune-mediated adverse reactions such as pneumonitis (lung inflammation), colitis (inflammation of the colon), hepatitis (liver inflammation), endocrinopathies (disorders of hormone-producing glands), and nephritis (kidney inflammation). Individuals may also experience complications if they have undergone allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) before or after receiving PD-1/PD-L1 blocking antibodies. The drug may also cause embryo-fetal toxicity (harm to an unborn fetus) if taken by a pregnant person. 

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Label: Opdivo Qvantig — Nivolumab and Hyaluronidase-Nvhy Injection, Solution — DailyMed