Combining the corticosteroid methylprednisolone and Jakafi (ruxolitinib), an approved oral therapy for bone marrow disorders, is showing promising effectiveness in heavily pre-treated multiple myeloma patients in an ongoing Phase 1 trial. Findings to date from this open-label study (NCT03110822), which is being sponsored by Onco Therapeutics, showed that the combination not only elicited promising responses but was…
The European Commission (EC) has approved Bavencio (avelumab) as a first-line maintenance treatment for adults with advanced urothelial carcinoma, the most common form of bladder cancer, whose disease did not progress after platinum-based chemotherapy. This decision follows a positive recommendation from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use, a branch of the European Medicines Agency. Bavencio…
In honor of World Cancer Day on Feb. 4, the Breast International Group (BIG) emphasized the importance of wide-scale cooperation in efforts to advance cancer research. “None of BIG’s achievements would be possible without the willingness to work together,” stated a press release highlighting some of the clinical trials that are supported by BIG, an…
Combining two imaging methods can provide a more accurate sampling of single tumors — like those found in ovarian cancer — thus allowing doctors to capture the diverse cancer cells in the tumor with fewer biopsies, a new study found. The study, “Ultrasound-guided targeted biopsies of CT-based radiomic tumour habitats: technical development and initial experience…
Essa Pharma has entered a clinical collaboration with Janssen to evaluate its small molecule inhibitor EPI-7386, in combination with either Erleada (apalutamide) or Zytiga (abiraterone acetate) plus prednisone, for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Under the terms of the agreement, Janssen will conduct up to two Phase 1/2 clinical trials evaluating these combinations in…
A new research center at Ohio State University (OSU) aims to speed work into the discovery and development of more effective treatments for those with multiple myeloma. The Riney Family Foundation Myeloma Center for Advanced Research Excellence (Myeloma CARE) is being established through a $10 million gift from the Paula and Rodger Riney Foundation to the…
Retifanlimab is under review in the U.S. as a treatment for advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal (SCAC), a rare cancer of the digestive system, in adults who are unable to receive, or whose disease progressed after, initial platinum-based chemotherapy. Incyte’s biologics licence application (BLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)…
The European Commission has conditionally approved Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan) for adults in the EU with inoperable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer who have received two or more prior anti-HER2 based regimens. A conditional approval is granted when the benefits of a medication regulators say still requires additional data or testing are found to outweigh its potential…
The first patient has been dosed in Celyad Oncology’s Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating CYAD-211, an investigational donor-derived CAR T-cell therapy for treating relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. The IMMUNICY-1 trial (NCT04613557) intends to recruit 12 patients who received two or more prior lines of treatment, including an immunomodulatory agent and a proteasome inhibitor. Enrollment…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review — under priority status — two applications requesting the approval of Opdivo (nivolumab) for treating several types of gastric and esophageal cancers. Opdivo is an immune checkpoint inhibitor marketed by Bristol Myers Squibb that has been approved, both alone and in combination with other…
