After crowning Keytruda as the first immunotherapy for advanced cervical cancer back in 2021, the FDA has awarded the drug another industry-first designation in an earlier stage of the tumor type. But again, the achievement was not perfect for Merck. Thanks to a new FDA nod, Merck’s Keytruda is the first PD-1 drug to be approved in combination with chemoradiotherapy to treat patients with stage 3 to 4a cervical cancer, the New Jersey pharma giant said Friday. This marks Keytruda’s 39th indication in the U.S. The approval, however, was narrower than expected. It came on the back of results from the Keynote-A18 trial, which showed a tumor progression benefit for the Keytruda-chemoradiation regimen in a broader patient population with earlier-stage cervical cancer. Keynote-A18 tested the Keytruda combo in patients whose cancer was as early as stage 1b2. Among the entire trial population, adding Keytruda to chemoradiotherapy slashed the risk of ...
Oral squamous cell carcinoma, the most common type of oral cancer and globally the ninth most prevalent cancer, currently relies on surgical biopsies for diagnosis. This additional referral step poses the risk of losing patients who may not return for follow-up until the cancer has progressed to advanced, more challenging stages. Additionally, surgical biopsies can be problematic as they often collect a mix of cell types, complicating the analysis, and creating the risk of spreading cancerous cells to other parts of the mouth. General blood tests looking for cancer’s genetic signals also have limitations, as they do not specify the tumor’s location, preventing quick initiation of treatment after detection. Now, a new test that allows dentists to screen for oral squamous cell carcinoma with a simple brush could early detection of oral cancer without surgery. The diagnostic kit, created by researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago (Urbana, IL, USA), ...
Two cancer therapies have topped Clarivate Analytics’ Drugs to Watch in 2024, an annual report that identifies potential blockbusters and other medicines that could “transform treatment paradigms.” Clarivate predicts Johnson & Johnson’s combination treatment Akeega and Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca’s datopotamab deruxtecan will generate $2.7 billion in sales each in 2029. On the list of 15 transformative medicines, these are the only ones expected to exceed $2 billion in sales by 2029. Clarivate’s report, which is in its 12th year, highlights drugs that have recently been approved or are expected to be approved in 2024. Its sales estimates cover the G7 countries—U.S., U.K., Japan, France, Italy, Germany and Canada. J&J was the only company with more than one drug on the list. Clarivate also spotlighted J&J’s Talvey, a first-in-class bispecific antibody to treat multiple myeloma. The analysts forecast Talvey’s sales will reach $850 million in 2029. The only other cancer ...
Ovarian cancer remains a significant cause of mortality globally. While advancements in cytoreductive surgery and chemotherapy have improved survival for those with epithelial ovarian cancer, prognosis heavily depends on the stage at diagnosis. Early detection, particularly at stage I, offers a five-year survival rate exceeding 90%. However, this rate drops to around 70% for stage II, where cancer is confined to the pelvis, and declines further for later stages, plummeting to a mere 20% at stage IV. Computational models suggest that detecting ovarian cancer in stages I or II could increase the cure rate by 10-30%. Currently, Cancer Antigen 125 (CA125), a protein found in various cells, including those of ovarian cancer, is the only tumor marker recommended for clinical use in diagnosing and managing ovarian cancer. Now, a new study has shown that a panel of four biomarkers is more sensitive than CA125 alone for early ovarian cancer detection, ...
Cancer, responsible for one-sixth of all global deaths, presents a formidable challenge, particularly because early detection is crucial for improving survival rates. However, current screening tests often fall short due to factors like invasiveness, cost, and limited accuracy in detecting early-stage diseases. In response to this challenge, researchers have now developed an innovative blood test that can identify 18 types of early-stage cancers across various major organs in the human body. This groundbreaking test from Novelna Inc. (Palo Alto, CA, USA) leverages a gender-specific panel of 10 proteins, providing a significant advancement in the ongoing battle against cancer. The foundation for the test was laid by pioneering research that underscores the potential for a new class of cancer screening tests, promising enhanced accuracy, reduced cost, and a move towards personalized healthcare. In their research, the Novelna team analyzed plasma samples from 440 individuals, encompassing both healthy subjects and those diagnosed ...
Education needs to improve for cervical cancer screening to help drive down cases of a tumor type that kills more than 340,000 people a year. That is a takeaway from a Harris Poll survey of women in the U.S., U.K. and Sweden that identified confusion about screening as a barrier to effective preventative care. BD, which sells a test for the cancer-causing human papillomavirus (HPV), publicized the results of the survey. The poll found most women see cervical cancer screening a key part of their health management, with the percentage ranging from 76% in the U.S. to 86% in Sweden, but their grasp of the specifics can be shaky. Between 55% and 59% of women find the screening guidance confusing. In Sweden, 28% of women say they are knowledgeable about cervical cancer screening options. The figures are higher in the U.S. and U.K., 59% and 62%, respectively, but other responses ...
Pfizer is still hungry for ADC opportunities, including in the Far East. Astellas’ impressive phase 3 data for its gastric cancer candidate couldn’t garner an approval because of manufacturing issues. Takeda’s 2022 TYK2 buy from Nimbus was highly competitive, an exec said. And more. 1. JPM24: Even after Seagen buyout, Pfizer oncology chief still eyes ADC deals As Pfizer continues its prowl for antibody-drug conjugate (ADCs) deals, the company is keeping an eye on opportunities around the globe. In an interview, Pfizer’s new oncology chief Chris Boshoff, Ph.D., said the company is looking for opportunities in China, which he said “is important in this whole area, especially ADC development.” The company is “not currently looking for big acquisitions,” Boshoff added. 2. Astellas’ gastric cancer candidate rejected by FDA because of manufacturing issues After running two phase 3 trials, Astellas’ near-term approval ambitions for its zolbetuximab have been dashed because of ...
In a recent study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, researchers examined published studies investigating the genotoxicity of potentially carcinogenic chemicals and their roles in inducing mammary tumors and activating progesterone or estradiol signaling. The researchers aimed to identify chemicals that could present breast cancer risk to humans. Background Recent statistics indicate that breast cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer and the major cause of cancer-related mortality among women across the world. In the United States (U.S.), the lifetime risk of women developing breast cancer is double that of the risk of developing lung cancer. Furthermore, the incidence of breast cancer among younger women is increasing, with mortality rates due to breast cancer among women between the ages of 20 and 49 years being double that of other forms of cancers affecting individuals of both sexes. A nine-year assessment since 2010 also indicates that the diagnostic rate ...
Astellas Pharma’s zolbetuximab was on track to become the first gastric cancer drug that targets claudin 18.1, a protein found on cancerous stomach cells. Others with clinical-stage programs addressing this this target include AstraZeneca and Bristol Myers Squibb. By FRANK VINLUAN Astellas Pharma’s path to winning the first drug approval for a particular promising gastrointestinal cancer target has hit a detour. The FDA turned down the drugmaker’s application, citing manufacturing issues for the therapy, zolbetuximab. Astellas announced the FDA action earlier this week. The company did not go into detail about the problems spotted by the regulator, but described them as “unresolved deficiencies following its pre-license inspection of a third-party manufacturing facility for zolbetuximab.” Astellas added that the agency did not raise any concerns about the safety or efficacy of the drug, nor is it asking for additional clinical data. Zolbetuximab was developed as a treatment for patients with locally ...
Pharmaceutical Executive Editorial Staff SH-105 eliminates the need for powder reconstitution, which Shorla stated will bolster the novel product’s efficiency and lower the risks associated with drug preparation. The FDA has accepted Shorla Oncology’s New Drug Application (NDA) for SH-105 to treat patients with breast and ovarian cancers. The NDA was given a Prescription Drug User Fee Act action date of June 29, 2024. “This innovative drug will offer hospital pharmacists and patients access to a differentiated, ready to administer, injectable product with unique characteristics that’s expected to facilitate rapid adoption once approved,” said Orlaith Ryan, Shorla Oncology chief technical officer and cofounder, in a press release. The novel therapy is a formulation of a well-established freeze-dried powder medication that has been in use dating back to the 1950s. The ready-to-dilute liquid formulation eliminates the need for powder reconstitution, which Shorla stated will bolster the product’s efficiency and lower the ...
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