Opdivo biosimilars — when can they launch?
Opdivo (nivolumab) · BLA125554 · BRISTOL MYERS SQUIBB
Where Opdivo sits in the biosimilar timeline
BPCIA 12-year reference product exclusivity for Opdivo expires in 2026 (1 year from today). Biosimilar developers are typically preparing 351(k) applications 36-48 months ahead of this date. Expect first biosimilar filings to surface in this window.
Under the US Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act (BPCIA), a reference biologic is protected from biosimilar competition for 12 years from FDA approval (with 4 years of data exclusivity preventing 351(k) submissions). Biosimilars enter via the abbreviated 351(k) pathway, which requires comparability — not exact identity — to the reference product.
Key dates for Opdivo
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| FDA approval (BLA filed by BRISTOL MYERS SQUIBB) | 2014-12-22 | Past |
| 4-year data exclusivity ends (first biosimilar 351(k) submission permitted) | 2018-12-22 | Past |
| 12-year reference product exclusivity ends (first biosimilar can be marketed) | 2026-12-22 | Future |
Note: composition-of-matter and method-of-use patent expiries (separate from BPCIA exclusivity) may set the actual launch window. See Opdivo on Drug Landscape for the full patent picture.
Other BRISTOL MYERS SQUIBB biologics
- ORENCIA — exclusivity to 2017-12-23
- Prolia/Xgeva — exclusivity to 2023-03-25
- NULOJIX — exclusivity to 2023-06-15
- EMPLICITI — exclusivity to 2027-11-30
- OPDUALAG — exclusivity to 2034-03-18
Sources
- FDA Purple Book — biologic license applications + BPCIA exclusivity
- Opdivo drug profile — full patent estate, indications, clinical trials
- BRISTOL MYERS SQUIBB patent portfolio
Not legal advice. BPCIA exclusivity may interact with composition-of-matter patents and patent term extensions — see the full drug profile for the consolidated picture.
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