Pronunciation: op-DEE-voh cue-VAN-tig
Generic name: hyaluronidase/nivolumab systemic
Dosage form: injection for subcutaneous use
Drug class: Anti-PD-1 and PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies (immune checkpoint inhibitors)

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Jan 21, 2025.

What is Opdivo Qvantig?

Opdivo Qvantig (nivolumab and hyaluronidase-nvhy) is used to treat the same solid tumor cancers that Opdivo is approved to treat, but is not approved for use in children or with Yervoy (see Opdivo Vs Opdivo Qvantig: What is the difference?). It is an immunotherapy treatment.

Opdivo Qvantig contains hyaluronidase, allowing it to be given subcutaneously (under the skin) over 3 to 5 minutes. This prescription medicine gained FDA approval on December 27, 2024. There is no generic.

Types of cancer treated with Opdivo Qvantig

Opdivo Qvantig is approved for the following solid tumor Opdivo indications in adults:

• Melanoma
• Bladder cancer (urothelial carcinoma)
• Colorectal cancer
• Gastric cancer, gastroesophageal junction cancer, and esophageal cancer
• Kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma)
• Liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma)
• Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
• Squamous cell cancer of the head and neck.

Opdivo Qvantig is only approved when used as:

• Monotherapy (the only treatment)
• Monotherapy maintenance treatment following completion of IV Opdivo and Yervoy combination therapy
• Or in combination with chemotherapy or Cabometyx.

Opdivo Qvantig is not approved for: 

• Classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL)
• Malignant pleural mesothelioma
• Children
• In combination with Yervoy (ipilimumab).

See the Opdivo Qvantig Prescribing Information for full approval criteria.

How does Opdivo Qvantig work?

Opdivo Qvantig works through a sophisticated mechanism called immune checkpoint inhibition:

• It blocks the PD-1 protein found on T cells
• This prevents PD-1 from interacting with PD-L1 on cancer cells
• This inhibition helps prevent cancer cells from "hiding" from the immune system, enhancing our immune system's response against cancer.

The hyaluronidase component of Opdivo Qvantig allows it to be given subcutaneously (under the skin). It is a spreading substance that improves the uptake of the medicine by increasing tissue permeability.

Opdivo Qvantig belongs to the drug class called immune checkpoint inhibitors and it may also be called a monoclonal antibody or PD-1-blocking antibody.

Opdivo Qvantig side effects

The most common Opdivo Qvantig side effects when used alone are:

• pain in muscles, bones, and joints
• low thyroid hormone levels
• feeling tired
• diarrhea
• itchy skin
• cough
• rash
• stomach-area (abdominal) pain.

Clinical trials have reported Opdivo infusion side effects, that may also be experienced with Opdivo Qvantig:

• nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite, diarrhea, constipation;
• mouth sores, altered sense of taste;
• itching, rash, redness, or blisters on your hands or feet;
• hormonal problems;
• liver problems;
• numbness, tingling, or burning pain in your hands or feet;
• fever, body aches;
• feeling weak, tired, or short of breath;
• cold symptoms such as runny or stuffy nose, cough, sore throat;
• headache, dizziness, increased blood pressure; or
• weight loss.

Some side effects are more common when Opdivo Qvantig is used in combination with other cancer treatments, such as cabozantinib (Cabometyx, Cometriq).

Serious side effects and warnings

Opdivo Qvantig can cause serious, sometimes life-threatening, side effects in many different parts of your body. Some side effects may need to be treated with other medicines, and your cancer treatments may be delayed.

Immune system problems. Opdivo Qvantig is a medicine that may treat certain cancers by working with your immune system. Opdivo Qvantig can cause your immune system to attack normal organs and tissues in any area of your body and can affect the way they work. These problems can sometimes become severe or life-threatening and can lead to death. You can have more than one of these problems at the same time. These problems may happen anytime during treatment or even after your treatment has ended and may be more common when Opdivo Qvantig is used in combination with other treatments. Call or see your healthcare provider right away if you develop any new or worsening symptoms, including:

• Lung problems
  • new or worsening cough
  • shortness of breath
  • chest pain.
• Intestinal problems
  • diarrhea (loose stools) or more bowel movements than usual
  • stools that are black, tarry, sticky, or have blood or mucus
  • severe stomach-area (abdomen) pain or tenderness.
• Liver problems
  • yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes
  • dark urine (tea colored)
  • severe nausea or vomiting
  • bleeding or bruising more easily than normal
  • pain on the right side of your stomach area (abdomen).
• Hormone gland problems
  • headaches that will not go away or unusual headaches
  • urinating more often than usual
  • hair loss
  • eye sensitivity to light
  • eye problems
  • rapid heartbeat
  • increased sweating
  • extreme tiredness
  • weight gain or weight loss
  • feeling cold
  • constipation
  • your voice gets deeper
  • dizziness or fainting
  • changes in mood or behavior, such as decreased
  • sex drive, irritability, or forgetfulness
  • feeling more hungry or thirsty than usual.
• Kidney problems
  • decrease in your amount of urine
  • swelling in your ankles
  • blood in your urine
  • loss of appetite.
• Skin problems
  • rash
  • itching
  • skin blistering or peeling
  • painful sores or ulcers in your mouth or in your nose, throat, or genital area
  • fever or flu-like symptoms
  • swollen lymph nodes.

Problems can also happen in other organs and tissues. These are not all of the signs and symptoms of immune system problems that can happen with Opdivo Qvantig. Call or see your healthcare provider right away for new or worsening symptoms, which may include:

• chest pain, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, swelling of ankles
• confusion, sleepiness, memory problems, changes in mood or behavior, stiff neck, balance problems, tingling or numbness of the arms or legs
• double vision, blurry vision, sensitivity to light, eye pain, changes in eyesight
• persistent or severe muscle pain or weakness, muscle cramps
• low red blood cells, and bruising.

Rejection of a transplanted organ or tissue. Your healthcare provider should tell you what signs and symptoms you should report and monitor, depending on the type of organ or tissue transplant that you have had.

Clinical trials have reported complications, including graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD), in people who have received a bone marrow (stem cell) transplant that uses donor stem cells (allogeneic). These complications can be serious and can lead to death. These complications may happen if you underwent transplantation either before or after being treated with Opdivo Qvantig. Your healthcare provider will monitor you for these complications.

Opdivo Qvantig can cause severe infusion-related reactions. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you experience chest tightness, wheezing, shortness of breath, facial flushing, itching, hives, swelling, or any other allergic reaction.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Opdivo Qvantig (hives, difficulty breathing, swelling in your face or throat) or a severe skin reaction (fever, sore throat, burning eyes, skin pain, red or purple skin rash with blistering and peeling).

Getting medical treatment right away may help keep these problems from becoming more serious. Your healthcare provider will check you for these problems during your treatment with Opdivo Qvantig. Your healthcare provider may treat you with corticosteroid or hormone replacement medicines. Your healthcare provider may also need to delay or completely stop treatment with Opdivo Qvantig if you have severe side effects.

Your cancer treatments may be delayed or permanently discontinued if you have certain side effects.

Opdivo Qvantig may cause harm to an unborn baby. Females who can get pregnant should use an adequate form of contraception while being treated with Opdivo Qvantig.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Related/similar drugs

Before taking this medicine

To make sure Opdivo Qvantig is safe for you, tell your doctor if you:

• have immune system problems such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or lupus
• have received an organ transplant
• have liver disease
• have received or plan to receive a stem cell transplant that uses donor stem cells (allogeneic)
• have received radiation treatment to your chest area in the past and have received other medicines that are similar to Opdivo Qvantig
• have a condition that affects your nervous system, such as myasthenia gravis or Guillain-Barré syndrome
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

Pregnancy

Opdivo Qvantig may harm an unborn baby. You may need to have a negative pregnancy test before starting this treatment. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy while receiving Opdivo Qvantig and for at least 5 months after your last dose. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.

Breastfeeding

It is not known if Opdivo Qvantig passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed while using this medicine, and for at least 5 months after your last dose.

How is Opdivo Qvantig administered?

Your healthcare provider will give you Opdivo Qvantig as an injection under the skin, in the stomach area (abdomen) or thigh, over about 3 to 5 minutes.

• Opdivo Qvantig is usually given every 2, 3, or 4 weeks, depending on the dose.
• Your healthcare provider will decide how many treatments you will receive.
• Your healthcare provider will do blood tests to check you for side effects.

For a type of kidney cancer called advanced renal cell carcinoma, your healthcare provider may also prescribe you cabozantinib (Cabometyx, Cometriq). Take cabozantinib exactly as your healthcare provider tells you.

Opdivo Qvantig dosing information

The dosage of Opdivo Qvantig depends on the cancer being treated. See the Opdivo Qvantig Package Insert for the complete dosing information.

• You will need frequent medical tests to help your doctor determine if it is safe for you to keep receiving Opdivo Qvantig.
• Opdivo Qvantig can cause side effects in many different parts of your body. You may be given medication to prevent certain side effects, and your cancer treatments may be delayed if you need treatment for a side effect.

What happens if I miss a dose?

If you miss any appointments, call your healthcare provider as soon as possible to reschedule your appointment.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What should I avoid while receiving Opdivo Qvantig?

Follow your doctor's instructions about restricting food, beverages, or activity.

What other drugs will affect Opdivo Qvantig?

Other drugs may interact with Opdivo Qvantig, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

Storage

Your healthcare provider will store Opdivo Qvantig refrigerated at 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F) and protect it from light by storing it in the original package until the time of use.

Opdivo Qvantig should not be frozen or shaken. 

Opdivo Qvantig ingredients

Active ingredients: nivolumab and hyaluronidase-nvhy

Inactive ingredients: histidine, histidine hydrochloride monohydrate, methionine, pentetic acid, polysorbate 80, sucrose, and Water for Injection.

Who makes Opdivo Qvantig?

Opdivo Qvantig is made by Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), headquartered in New York City. Notable drugs from BMS include:

• Eliquis (blood thinner - partnered with Pfizer)
• Yervoy (cancer immunotherapy)
• Revlimid (blood cancers)
• Orencia (rheumatoid arthritis)
• Abecma (CAR-T cell therapy for multiple myeloma)
• Breyanzi (CAR-T cell therapy for lymphoma)
• Zeposia (multiple sclerosis)
• Reblozyl (anemia)
• Camzyos (heart condition).

Opdivo qvantig Biosimilars

Biosimilar and interchangeable products are biological products that are highly similar to and have no clinically meaningful differences from the reference product.

Reference products

These are biological products that have already been approved by the FDA, against which biosimilar products are compared. There is 1 for Opdivo Qvantig.

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Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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