Patient Resources

BRISOY0016. October 2025. 1506-NZ-2500030. TAPS MR12579.

Please note: Your cancer specialist is your primary source of contact for advice, information and support in relation to your condition or treatment with OPDIVO, YERVOY or OPDIVO in combination with YERVOY.  Ask your doctor if OPDIVO, YERVOY or OPDIVO in combination with YERVOY is right for you.

OPDIVO (nivolumab 10mg/mL) is a prescription medicine that can be used on its own (monotherapy) in the treatment of advanced melanoma, a type of kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma), certain types of lung cancer, a type of head and neck cancer (squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck), a type of bladder cancer (urothelial carcinoma), a type of blood cancer (classical Hodgkin lymphoma), a type of liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) and a type of food pipe cancer (oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma).  OPDIVO monotherapy can be used as adjuvant treatment after surgical removal of cancer in certain types of melanoma, food pipe cancer (oesophageal), cancer of the connection between the stomach and the food pipe (gastro-oesophageal junction), and bladder cancer (urothelial carcinoma).  OPDIVO (nivolumab 10 mg/mL) and YERVOY (ipilimumab 5 mg/mL) are prescription medicines that can be used together to treat certain types of advanced melanoma, advanced renal cell carcinoma and malignant pleural mesothelioma (a type of lung cancer that affects the lining of the lung).  OPDIVO in combination with YERVOY and chemotherapy is used to treat a certain type of lung cancer. OPDIVO in combination with chemotherapy is used to treat cancer of the stomach (gastric adenocarcinoma), cancer of the connection between the stomach and food pipe (gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma) and the food pipe (oesophageal adenocarcinoma or oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma). OPDIVO, in combination with chemotherapy, is used to treat a type of lung cancer (non-small cell lung cancer) before you have surgery. OPDIVO, in combination with chemotherapy, is used to treat a type of bladder cancer (urothelial carcinoma). OPDIVO in combination with cabozantinib can be used to treat advanced kidney cancer.   

YERVOY (ipilimumab 5mg/ml) is a prescription medicine that can be used on its own (monotherapy) in the treatment of advanced melanoma; in combination with OPDIVO for a type of kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma), advanced melanoma and malignant pleural mesothelioma (cancer that affects the lining of the lung), and in combination with OPDIVO and chemotherapy for a type of lung cancer (non-small cell lung cancer).

Do not use OPDIVO or YERVOY if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to nivolumab or ipilimumab, or to any of the other ingredients of OPDIVO or YERVOY.  If you are not sure talk to your doctor.  OPDIVO, YERVOY and OPDIVO + YERVOY have risks and benefits, please discuss these with your doctor.  Tell your doctor of any previous or current medical conditions, including if you have had a stem cell transplant that uses donor stem cells (allogeneic), if you have an auto-immune disease and if you are taking any other medicines.    

OPDIVO, YERVOY or OPDIVO in combination with YERVOY can increase the risk of serious or even life-threatening side effects, which may affect different parts of the body.  Signs and symptoms of side effects may happen at any time during treatment or even many months after your treatment has ended.  If you experience any side effects, inform your doctor immediately.  Early assessment and management of side effects by your doctor reduces the likelihood that treatment with OPDIVO, YERVOY or OPDIVO in combination with YERVOY will need to be temporarily or permanently stopped.  Signs and symptoms that may appear mild can quickly worsen if left untreated.  Do not try to treat these symptoms yourself.  Possible signs and symptoms to look out for include the following (although these are not the only ones)- chest (heart and lungs): breathing difficulties, cough, wheeze, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, palpitations (increased awareness of your heartbeat); gut (stomach and bowels): diarrhoea (watery, loose or soft stools), blood or mucous in stools, dark-coloured stools, pain or tenderness in your stomach or abdominal area; liver: eye or skin yellowing (jaundice), pain on the right side of your stomach area; kidneys: change in amount and/or frequency of urine; hormone producing glands (including diabetes): headaches, blurry or double vision, fatigue (tiredness), weight changes, behavioural changes (e.g. lower sex drive, irritability or forgetfulness), excessive thirst, increased appetite with weight loss, weakness, drowsiness, depression, feeling unwell, change in amount and/or frequency of urine; skin: rash, itching, blisters and/or peeling of the skin (possibly fatal), ulcers, dry skin, skin nodules; other: weakness, fatigue (tiredness), decreased appetite, nausea, vomiting, tingling or numbness in arms and legs, difficulty walking, fever, swollen lymph nodes, headache, seizures, stiff neck, confusion, drowsiness, muscle pain, stiffness, dark urine, eye pain or redness, blurry vision, or other vision problems.

For more information about OPDIVO or YERVOY and a list of side effects, please see the OPDIVO Consumer Medicine Information at https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/Consumers/CMI/o/opdivo.pdf and/or the YERVOY Consumer Medicine Information at https://www.medsafe.govt.nz/consumers/cmi/y/yervoy.pdf or call BMS Medical Information on 0800 167 567 (toll free) or email medinfo.australia@bms.com to request a copy. 

Please inform any healthcare professional caring for you that you are receiving treatment with OPDIVO or YERVOY, or OPDIVO in combination with YERVOY.  Use OPDIVO, YERVOY or OPDIVO + YERVOY strictly as directed. REF-06113-ONC

OPDIVO is a funded prescription medicine for patients with advanced melanoma and advanced kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma), and OPDIVO and YERVOY, in combination, are funded prescription medicines for patients with metastatic kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma) – restrictions apply. A prescription charge and normal Doctor’s fees may apply.   OPDIVO and YERVOY are not funded by Pharmac for the treatment of other cancers listed above. Ask your health professional about the cost of the medicine and any other medical fees that may apply.

© 2025 Bristol-Myers Squibb.  OPDIVO^® and YERVOY^® are registered trademarks of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.  Bristol-Myers Squibb (NZ) Limited, Auckland, New Zealand.  Side effects should be reported to BMS Medical Information on 0800 167 567 (toll free) or medinfo.australia@bms.com.