Japan Health Ministry Sets 50% Price Cut for BMS Opdivo

Nov. 17, 2016

Japan's health ministry has decided on a 50 percent cut in the price of Opdivo, the immune system-boosting cancer drug produced by Bristol Myers Squibb.

The price change on Opdivo, marketed in Japan by Ono Pharmaceutical and approved for treating advanced melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer and kidney cancer, will take effect on February 1, 2017.

According to local media, Japan's government-run health system typically adjusts drug prices every two years, but Opdivo's high price tag raised costs so much that officials decided to intervene early with the drastic price cut.

Read the Reuters release