New drug for attacking Cancer cells: Nivolumab by Bristol-Myers Squibb

Nivolumab (Opdivo) is a PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor newly approved for advanced melanoma. PD-1 blockers boost the immune system to attack various types of cancer cells. In fact, BMS' Nivolumab is under study to knock out other cancer types, including lung, kidney, brain, and lymphoma. Merck's competitor PD-1-blocking agent pembrolizumab (Keytruda) was approved for advanced melanoma in September 2014, but nivolumab claimed the stake as the world's first PD-1 blocker with a Japanese approval in July 2014. FDA approval came three months early, and peak sales could reach $6 billion by 2020.