A combination of bevacizumab and Zejula (niraparib) is significantly better than Zejula alone at extending the time without disease progression in people with platinum-sensitive relapsed ovarian cancer, findings from a clinical trial show. The combination also delayed the need for subsequent treatment by prolonging time without disease worsening, and showed a trend toward better survival rates,…
Genetic screenings of the general population for prostate cancer are feasible, safe, and may be effective at identifying the disease in apparently healthy men who might otherwise remain undiagnosed, according to data from a pilot study in the United Kingdom. Study findings were presented in the oral presentation, “BARCODE 1: A pilot study investigating the…
VBL Therapeutic’s investigational therapy VB-111 (ofranergene obadenovec) continues to show promising response rates in women with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, with more than half of patients enrolled in a Phase 3 trial responding to a combination treatment. Since the OVAL trial (NCT03398655) has met pre-specified criteria, as an interim analysis found, an independent data safety monitoring…
Ontruzant (trastuzumab-dttb), a biosimilar to Genentech‘s Herceptin (trastuzumab), will now be made available in the U.S. as a treatment for HER2-overexpressing breast cancers as well as for stomach cancers, according to a press release from Merck. Merck will be launching the antibody treatment in the U.S., as part of an agreement with Samsung Bioepis, Ontruzant’s developers. It…
The European Commission (EC) has approved a new under-the-skin (subcutaneous), fixed-dose formulation of Janssen’s Darzalex (daratumumab) for the treatment of adults with multiple myeloma. The approval of the new type of delivery applies to all indications for which the therapy’s original intravenous (into-the-vein) formulation is currently approved. That includes its use with newly diagnosed patients…
Adding Beigene‘s experimental therapy tislelizumab to standard first-line chemotherapy significantly delays disease progression or death in patients with advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), data from a Phase 3 clinical trial shows. The combination also increased the proportion of patients responding to treatment and the duration of such responses, compared to chemotherapy only. The…
Urged by Prostate Cancer UK, NHS England is making Xtandi (enzalutamide) and Zytiga (abiraterone acetate) available during the COVID-19 pandemic for men with newly diagnosed advanced prostate cancer. Access to chemotherapy for these new patients has been stopped in the U.K. due to the nationwide lockdown. “We are delighted that NHS England have taken the…
Genetic tests to assess the risk of breast and ovarian cancer can be performed remotely in the safety of the patients’ homes, according to data from an early Phase 1 trial. The trial findings also showed that genetic counseling sessions performed before and after testing can be skipped entirely without causing additional distress to patients.…
Kisqali (ribociclib) combined with endocrine therapy prolongs the overall survival of women with HR-positive, HER2-negative, advanced or metastatic breast cancer with visceral metastases (in the soft internal organs), data from two Phase 3 clinical trials show. That finding was presented at the 2020 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, which took place May 29–31 in…
The European Commission (EC) has approved Sanofi‘s Sarclisa (isatuximab), in a triple combination with Pomalyst (pomalidomide) and dexamethasone, to treat adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. The approval is specifically for those who have tried at least two previous types of treatment, to include Revlimid (lenalidomide) and a proteasome inhibitor, and experienced disease progression on the most recent therapy. It covers…
