Midostaurin Approved by FDA for AML
April 28th 2017Midostaurin (Rydapt) has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed <em>FLT3</em>-positive acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in combination with standard cytarabine and daunorubicin induction and cytarabine consolidation.
CTL019 Granted Breakthrough Designation by FDA for DLBCL
April 18th 2017Tisagenlecleucel-T has been granted a breakthrough therapy designation by the FDA for use as a treatment for adult patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma after the failure of at least 2 prior therapies.
ODAC Meeting Scheduled by FDA for Neratinib in HER2+ Breast Cancer
April 18th 2017An Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee hearing has been scheduled by the FDA for May 24, 2017, to discuss a new drug application for neratinib as a treatment for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer following prior treatment with postoperative trastuzumab.
Alectinib Superior to Crizotonib for Frontline ALK+ NSCLC in Phase III ALEX Trial
April 10th 2017According to findings from the phase III ALEX trial, alectinib reduced the risk of disease progression or death compared with crizotinib as a frontline treatment for patients with <em>ALK</em>-positive non–small cell lung cancer.
Avelumab Demonstrates Durable Activity in Merkel Cell Carcinoma
April 5th 2017According to results of the phase II JAVELIN Merkel 200 study, the PD-L1 inhibitor avelumab (Bavencio) induced an objective response rate (ORR) of 33% in patients with advanced Merkel cell carcinoma, including 2 additional complete responses (CR) since the primary analysis.
sBLA for Full Approval of Blinatumomab in ALL Granted FDA's Priority Review
March 30th 2017The FDA has granted a priority review to a supplemental biologics license application (sBLA) supporting the conversion of the accelerated approval of blinatumomab (Blincyto) to a full approval as a treatment for patients with Philadelphia chromosome-negative (Ph-) relapsed/refractory B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
Niraparib Approved by FDA for Ovarian Cancer
March 27th 2017The PARP inhibitor niraparib (Zejula) has been approved by the FDA for the maintenance treatment of adult patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer who are in complete or partial response to platinum-based chemotherapy.
EMA Recommends Nivolumab for Approval in Head and Neck Cancer
March 24th 2017Nivolumab (Opdivo) has been recommended for approval by EMA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use for the treatment of patients with squamous cell cancer of the head and neck following progression on platinum-based therapy.
Ribociclib Approved by FDA for Frontline HR+/HER2- Breast Cancer
March 14th 2017The CDK 4/6 inhibitor ribociclib has been approved by the FDA for use in combination with an aromatase inhibitor for the frontline treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor–positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer.
PARP Inhibitors Likely This Year's Breakthrough In Breast Cancer Management
March 12th 2017Kimberly Blackwell, MD, discusses the results of the recent phase III OLYMPIAD trial, which showed olaparib (Lynparza) improved progression-free survival (PFS) versus standard chemotherapy in patients with <em>BRCA</em>-positive breast cancer.
Ribociclib Results Promising for Elderly Patients With HR+/HER2- Breast Cancer
March 10th 2017The addition of the CDK4/6 inhibitor ribociclib to frontline letrozole reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 40% in elderly patients with hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer.