Conmana Bests Chemotherapy in Progression-Free Survival for Lung Cancer
September 8th 2017According to the results of a recent study conducted in China, patients with stage 3B/4 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) saw a 3.3-month increase in median progression-free survival (PFS) when taking Conmana (icotinib) compared to those who were taking chemotherapy.
Keytruda Shows Benefit in Small Cell Lung Cancer
September 6th 2017The immunotherapy agent Keytruda (pembrolizumab) had an overall response rate (ORR) of 33 percent in a recent trial including patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Findings of the phase 1b KEYNOTE-028 trial were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
New Drug on the Fast Track for Melanoma Treatment
September 5th 2017A new drug may be on the way to treat patients with advanced melanoma, as the FDA granted LN-144, which is produced by Iovance Biotherapeutics, a fast track designation. The drug uses tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) technology to bolster the body’s immune system to attack cancer cells.
Bosulif Granted Priority Review in CML
August 30th 2017Bosulif (bosutinib) was granted a priority review to a supplemental new drug application (sNDA) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the first-line treatment of patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).
Gazyva Granted Priority Review for Follicular Lymphoma
August 29th 2017The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted a priority review to a supplemental biologics license application (sBLA) for Gazyva (obinutuzumab) to be used in combination with chemotherapy for first-line treatment of patients who have follicular lymphoma, according to Genentech, the manufacturer of the drug.
End-of-Life Care Is Suboptimal in Elderly Patients With AML
August 25th 2017End-of-life care is of particular concern for elderly patients with AML because prognosis is poor and has not changed in several decades. Median survival for patients 65 or older is roughly two months and drops to as low as one month for patients over 85 years.
Immunotherapy May Move Into Advanced Gynecologic Cancers
July 20th 2017The immunotherapy agent Opdivo (nivolumab) showed clinical acitivty in women who had recurrent/metastatic cervical cancer, and was active to a lesser extent in vaginal and vulvar cancers, according to results from the CheckMate-358 trial.
Maintenance Rubraca Has Potential in Ovarian Cancer
July 9th 2017For women with platinum-sensitive, high-grade ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer, an improved progression-free survival (PFS) was seen for those who took Rubraca (rucaparib) as a maintenance therapy, compared to placebo, according to the phase 3 ARIEL3 trial.
Combination Approved for BRAF-Positive Lung Cancer
June 23rd 2017The combination of Tafinlar (dabrafenib) and Mekinist (trametinib) gained approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of patients with BRAF V600–positive advanced or metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Duo Falls Short in Treating Advanced Kidney Cancer
June 14th 2017Progression-free survival (PFS) was not significantly improved with the combination of dalantercept plus Inlyta (axitinib) in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) compared with placebo, according to the results from the phase 2 DART trial.
New Drug Granted a Priority Review for AML Treatment
June 2nd 2017VYXEOS (CPX-351), a novel injection, was granted a new drug application (NDA) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), granting the drug a priority review for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), according to Jazz Pharmaceuticals, the producer of the drug.
Combination Improves Progression-Free Survival in Urothelial Carcinoma
June 1st 2017According to results from the phase 3 RANGE trial, the addition of Cyramza (ramucirumab) to docetaxel resulted in improved progression-free survival for patients with previously treated locally advanced or unresectable or metastatic urothelial carcinoma.
Keytruda Granted Priority Review for Advanced Gastric Cancer
May 25th 2017Keytruda (pembrolizumab) was granted a priority review to a supplemental biologics license application for the treatment of patients with recurrent or advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma who have undergone at least two courses of chemotherapy.
New Breast Cancer Agent Shows Promise in an Early Trial
May 23rd 2017Early results for a new agent, pyrotinib (HTI-1001), are showing promise for the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer, according to phase 1 results from China published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, which showed that the drug was well-tolerated and showed anti-tumor activity.
Despite Benefits, HPV Vaccination Rates Remain Too Low
May 18th 2017Despite impressive efficacy for the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine reducing the prevalence of high-risk oral HPV infections by 88 percent, many young adults still are not getting the vaccine – sparking concern in the health community.