Outcomes of CheckMate 205, a phase II trial, confirm the efficacy of the anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) antibody nivolumab in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) with treatment failure after autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT), regardless of prior treatment with brentuximab vedotin. A total of 243 patients were divided into three groups based on brentuximab vedotin treatment status: no previous treatment; treatment before auto-HSCT; or treatment after auto-HSCT. An objective response rate of 69% was observed across the entire study cohort, with response rates ≥63% observed in each group and a median progression-free survival duration of 14.7 months. Grade 3–4 adverse events were rare and included increased serum lipase levels (in 5% of patients) and neutropenia (3%). These findings demonstrate that nivolumab is safe and effective in this historically difficult to treat population, regardless of previous treatments received.