| Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
Erbitux vs Opdivo
Side-by-side clinical, coverage, and cost comparison for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.Deep comparison between: Erbitux vs Opdivo with Prescriber.AI
AI compares prescribing info and payer-specific access barriers across 1,200+ formularies. Here's a preview of what prescribers are already asking.Safety signalsOpdivo has a higher rate of injection site reactions vs Erbitux based on FDA-approved prescribing information
Coverage gaps3 major payers require step therapy for Opdivo but not Erbitux, including UnitedHealthcare
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Category
Erbitux
Opdivo
At A Glance
IV infusion
Weekly or every 2 weeks
EGFR antagonist
IV infusion
Every 2 weeks or Every 4 weeks
PD-1 blocking antibody
Indications
- Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
- Metastasis from malignant neoplasm of colon and/or rectum
- melanoma
- Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma
- Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
- Renal Cell Carcinoma
- Hodgkin Disease
- Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
- Urothelial Carcinoma
- Colorectal Carcinoma
- Liver carcinoma
- Squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus
- Stomach Carcinoma
- Gastroesophageal junction cancer
- Adenocarcinoma Of Esophagus
Dosing
Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck In combination with radiation therapy: initial 400 mg/m2 IV (120-min) one week prior to radiation, then 250 mg/m2 weekly (60-min) for 6-7 weeks, completing infusion 1 hour prior to radiation; as single-agent or with platinum-based therapy and fluorouracil: weekly (400 mg/m2 initial, 250 mg/m2 subsequent) or biweekly (500 mg/m2 every 2 weeks), completing infusion 1 hour prior to chemotherapy.
Metastasis from malignant neoplasm of colon and/or rectum As single-agent or in combination with irinotecan or FOLFIRI: weekly (400 mg/m2 initial, 250 mg/m2 subsequent) or biweekly (500 mg/m2 every 2 weeks), completing infusion 1 hour prior to irinotecan or FOLFIRI; in combination with encorafenib (BRAF V600E mutation-positive): initial 400 mg/m2 IV (120-min), then 250 mg/m2 weekly (60-min).
Melanoma Adults and pediatric >=40 kg: 240 mg every 2 weeks or 480 mg every 4 weeks; Pediatric <40 kg: 3 mg/kg every 2 weeks or 6 mg/kg every 4 weeks
Non-Small Cell Lung Carcinoma Neoadjuvant: 360 mg every 3 weeks with platinum-doublet chemotherapy for 3-4 cycles; Adjuvant after neoadjuvant: 480 mg every 4 weeks; Metastatic: 360 mg every 3 weeks with ipilimumab 1 mg/kg every 6 weeks; or 360 mg every 3 weeks with ipilimumab 1 mg/kg every 6 weeks and 2 cycles platinum-doublet chemotherapy; or 240 mg every 2 weeks or 480 mg every 4 weeks
Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma 360 mg every 3 weeks with ipilimumab 1 mg/kg every 6 weeks
Renal Cell Carcinoma 3 mg/kg with ipilimumab 1 mg/kg every 3 weeks for 4 doses, then 240 mg every 2 weeks or 480 mg every 4 weeks; or 240 mg every 2 weeks or 480 mg every 4 weeks with cabozantinib 40 mg daily orally; or 240 mg every 2 weeks or 480 mg every 4 weeks
Hodgkin Disease Previously untreated: Adults and pediatric >=40 kg: 240 mg with AVD every 2 weeks for 6 cycles; Pediatric <40 kg: 3 mg/kg with AVD every 2 weeks for 6 cycles; Relapsed or refractory: 240 mg every 2 weeks or 480 mg every 4 weeks
Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck 240 mg every 2 weeks or 480 mg every 4 weeks
Urothelial Carcinoma Adjuvant: 240 mg every 2 weeks or 480 mg every 4 weeks; First-line: 360 mg every 3 weeks with cisplatin and gemcitabine for up to 6 cycles, then 240 mg every 2 weeks or 480 mg every 4 weeks; Previously treated: 240 mg every 2 weeks or 480 mg every 4 weeks
Colorectal Carcinoma Adults and pediatric >=40 kg: 240 mg with ipilimumab 1 mg/kg every 3 weeks for maximum 4 doses, then 240 mg every 2 weeks or 480 mg every 4 weeks; Pediatric <40 kg: 3 mg/kg with ipilimumab 1 mg/kg every 3 weeks for maximum 4 doses, then 3 mg/kg every 2 weeks or 6 mg/kg every 4 weeks
Liver carcinoma 1 mg/kg with ipilimumab 3 mg/kg every 3 weeks for 4 doses, then 240 mg every 2 weeks or 480 mg every 4 weeks
Squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus Adjuvant resected: 240 mg every 2 weeks or 480 mg every 4 weeks for 1 year; First-line with chemotherapy: 240 mg every 2 weeks or 480 mg every 4 weeks with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy; First-line with ipilimumab: 3 mg/kg every 2 weeks or 360 mg every 3 weeks with ipilimumab 1 mg/kg every 6 weeks; Previously treated: 240 mg every 2 weeks or 480 mg every 4 weeks
Stomach Carcinoma 360 mg every 3 weeks with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy every 3 weeks or 240 mg every 2 weeks with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy every 2 weeks
Gastroesophageal junction cancer 360 mg every 3 weeks with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy every 3 weeks or 240 mg every 2 weeks with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy every 2 weeks
Adenocarcinoma Of Esophagus 360 mg every 3 weeks with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy every 3 weeks or 240 mg every 2 weeks with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy every 2 weeks
Contraindications
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Adverse Reactions
Most common (>=25%) Cutaneous adverse reactions (rash, pruritus, nail changes), headache, diarrhea, infection; with encorafenib: fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, dermatitis acneiform, abdominal pain, decreased appetite, arthralgia, rash.
Serious Infusion reactions, cardiopulmonary arrest, pulmonary toxicity, dermatologic toxicity (acneiform rash), hypomagnesemia and electrolyte abnormalities, pulmonary embolism.
Postmarketing Aseptic meningitis, mucosal inflammation, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, life-threatening and fatal bullous mucocutaneous disease.
Most common (>=20%) fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, rash, diarrhea, pruritus, nausea, decreased appetite, cough, dyspnea, constipation, upper respiratory tract infection
Serious pneumonitis, colitis, hepatitis, endocrinopathies, nephritis, dermatologic reactions, myocarditis, neurological toxicities, infusion-related reactions
Pharmacology
EGFR antagonist; cetuximab is a recombinant human/mouse chimeric IgG1 monoclonal antibody that binds specifically to the extracellular domain of EGFR, competitively inhibiting EGF and other ligand binding, blocking receptor-associated kinase phosphorylation, inhibiting cell growth, inducing apoptosis, decreasing matrix metalloproteinase and VEGF production, and mediating antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against certain human tumor types.
Nivolumab is a PD-1 blocking antibody that binds to the PD-1 receptor and blocks its interaction with PD-L1 and PD-L2, releasing PD-1 pathway-mediated inhibition of the immune response, including the anti-tumor immune response.
Enter your patient's insuranceCheck specific coverage details for your patient.
Most Common Insurance
Anthem BCBS
Erbitux
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (12/12) · Step Therapy (0/12) · Qty limit (0/12)
Opdivo
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (10/12) · Step Therapy (4/12) · Qty limit (0/12)
UnitedHealthcare
Erbitux
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (3/8) · Step Therapy (3/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
Opdivo
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (0/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (0/8)
Humana
Erbitux
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (3/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · Qty limit (0/3)
Opdivo
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (3/3) · Step Therapy (0/3) · Qty limit (2/3)
Coverage data sourced from MMIT. Updated monthly.
Savings
Cost estimate not availableAssistance Fund: Head and Neck Cancer: Waitlist
Commercial or private insurance
Medicare, Medicaid, VA, TRICARE
No savings programs available for Opdivo.
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Clinical data sourced from FDA-approved labeling. Coverage data via MMIT. Updated monthly.