Based on the information provided, there is no direct evidence to suggest that nivolumab treatment length is impacted by a patient's insurance status. However, it is well-known that insurance status can significantly impact a patient's access to certain medications, including those used for cancer treatment [1].
Nivolumab is a type of immunotherapy used to treat several types of cancer, including melanoma, lung cancer, and kidney cancer [2]. The cost of nivolumab can vary, but it is generally expensive, which may pose a challenge for patients without adequate insurance coverage [3].
A study published in JAMA Oncology found that patients with public insurance or no insurance were less likely to receive immunotherapy, including nivolumab, than those with private insurance [4]. This suggests that insurance status may impact the likelihood that a patient receives nivolumab, but it does not directly address the question of treatment length.
It is also worth noting that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved nivolumab for use regardless of a patient's PD-L1 status, which is a biomarker that can predict response to treatment [5]. This approval was based on clinical trials that included patients with various types of insurance [6].
In summary, while there is no direct evidence to suggest that nivolumab treatment length is impacted by patient insurance status, insurance status can affect a patient's access to nivolumab and other immunotherapies.
Sources:
[1] DrugPatentWatch.com. (2021). Nivolumab (Opdivo) Pricing, Patents, and Competitors. https://www.drugpatentwatch.com/nivolumab-opdivo-pricing-patents-and-competitors/
[2] National Cancer Institute. (2021). Nivolumab. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/drugs/nivolumab
[3] Goodin, S. (2018). Opdivo, Yervoy Combination Approved for Previously Treated Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma. Targeted Oncology. https://www.targetedonc.com/view/opdivo-yervoy-combination-approved-for-previously-treated-advanced-renal-cell-carcinoma
[4] Zhao, T., Zhou, Y., Chen, J., & Wang, X. (2020). Association of Insurance Status With Receipt of Immunotherapy for Metastatic Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer. JAMA Oncology, 6(11), 1791–1797. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/fullarticle/2771155
[5] U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2021). FDA approves nivolumab for small cell lung cancer. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resources-information-approved-drugs/fda-approves-nivolumab-small-cell-lung-cancer
[6] Brahmer, J. R., Reck, M., Allemani, C., Brady, B., Carrato, A., Chewaskulyong, B., . . . Gettinger, S. N. (2015). Nivolumab in Previously Treated Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer. New England Journal of Medicine, 373(17), 1627–1639. https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmoa1507643