Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.'s Opdivo achieved the desired efficacy and safety benchmarks in a phase 3 clinical trial involving patients with advanced gastric cancer who become intolerant to chemotherapy.

The drug significantly reduced the risk of death by 37% in patients suffering from the cancer when compared to placebo.

Opdivo was co-developed by Bristol-Myers and Ono Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., and is already approved for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma, either as a single agent or in combination with Yervoy.