(Bloomberg)--Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.’s immune cancer therapywon approval from U.S. regulators for a broader population of lungcancer patients, a boost for a drug that’s expected to become ablockbuster.

The decision by the Food and Drug Administration camealmost three months ahead of schedule, following a trend of quickerclearances for new cancer drugs by the agency.

In March, Opdivo was approved three months ahead of planfor use in patients with advanced squamous, non-small cell lungcancer whose disease had progressed during or after tryingchemotherapy.

The latest approval is for non-squamous, non-small cell lungcancer whose disease has progressed during or after chemotherapy.The non-squamous form of the cancer accounts for about 45 percentto 60 percent of lung cancer cases.

For the average U.S. patient, Opdivo costs about $12,500 amonth, or $150,000 for a year of therapy, a Bristol-Myersspokeswoman said.

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Opdivo was also approved last week for use in combination withanother immune therapy drug in a form of melanoma. That combinationwill cost $256,000, on average, for a year of treatment.

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Opdivo targets a cellular pathway known as PD-1, which restrictsthe body’s immune system from attacking cancer cells. The drug isexpected to expand from $2.15 billion of sales in 2016 to $5.27billion in 2018, according to analysts’ estimates compiled byBloomberg.

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