Nivolumab

The Formulary Management Expert Committee (FMEC) recommends that nivolumab in combination with doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (N + AVD) be reimbursed for the first-line treatment of stage III and stage IV classic Hodgkin lymphoma in patients 12 years of age and older, provided certain conditions are met. N + AVD should only be reimbursed for the first-line treatment of stage III and stage IV classic Hodgkin lymphoma in patients 12 years of age and older who do not have significant active autoimmune disease. When comparing N + AVD to brentuximab vedotin (BV) in combination with doxorubicin (Adriamycin), vinblastine, and dacarbazine (AVD), no price reduction is required to achieve cost-effectiveness, given that N + AVD has a lower drug cost and better clinical outcomes. Based on the Canada’s Drug Agency assessment of the clinical evidence, it was determined that there is not enough evidence to justify a greater cost for N + AVD compared with BV in combination with doxorubicin (Adriamycin), vincristine, etoposide, prednisone, and cyclophosphamide (BV + AVEPC).