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BiotecNOVA™ Running To The Light
BiotecNOVA™ Running To The Light
Nov. 15, 2020 7:57 AM ET| About: Amgen Inc. (AMGN), AZN, BMY, BNTX, GSK, JNJ, LLY, MRK, MRNA, NVS, PFE, RHHBY, SNY
Summary
“When you get on a plane everyone routes for the pilot”.
Pfizer (PFE) and Lilly (LLY) remain two of my top holdings.
Unfortunately for the state of Georgia, they will be subjected to countless new political ads for those competing for the two GA Senate races that will determine which party controls.
There have been many positive news articles on successful meds directed to cancer and other ailments just within the past 3 weeks.
Running To The Light - Brandon Lake | House of Miracles
•Aug 28, 2020 Brandon Lake
Writers: Brandon Lake, Dante Bowe, and Ben Hastings
Cody Carnes - Let The Light In (Live From Worship Together)
Premiered Mar 13, 2020 Cody Carnes
Writer(s): Brett Younker, Cody Carnes, Kristian Stanfill
biotecNOVA™ - Let The Light In
biotecNOVA™ - Let The Light In
Jul. 11, 2020 12:00 PM ET|About: Amgen Inc. (AMGN), BGNE, GILD, GSK, NVAX, PFE, AZN, JNJ
Summary
some encouraging biotech news events and hopeful USA investments in vaccine development and anti-viral development.
The number of Covid-19 cases in the USA is the highest in the world and getting worse.
a temporary truce between politicos and the biopharma community.
if there is a business sector that can unite Americans, Europeans and Chinese more than any other sector it is the biotech sector.
biotecNOVA™ Apr/Mar/Feb/Jan 2021 /Dec 2020 insight
Opdivo® (nivolumab) in Combination with Chemotherapy
Opdivo® (nivolumab) in Combination with Chemotherapy
Opdivo® (nivolumab) in Combination with Chemotherapy
Opdivo® (nivolumab) in Combination with Chemotherapy
Opdivo® (nivolumab) in Combination with Chemotherapy
U.S. Food and Drug Administration Approves Opdivo® (nivolumab) in Combination with Chemotherapy for Patients with Advanced or Metastatic Gastric Cancer, Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer, and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma, Regardless of PD-L1 Expression Status
04/16/2021
CATEGORY:
Opdivo is the first and only immunotherapy in combination with chemotherapy to deliver superior overall survival versus chemotherapy alone in a trial of this patient population1
PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) today announced that Opdivo (nivolumab) (injection for intravenous use), in combination with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic gastric cancer, gastroesophageal junction cancer, and esophageal adenocarcinoma, regardless of PD-L1 expression status.1 The approval is based on the Phase 3 CheckMate -649 trial evaluating Opdivo in combination with mFOLFOX6 (fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin) or CapeOX (capecitabine and oxaliplatin), compared to chemotherapy (mFOLFOX6 or CapeOX) alone.1,2
In the trial of this patient population, Opdivo plus chemotherapy demonstrated superior overall survival (OS) compared to chemotherapy alone, both in all randomized patients (OS HR 0.80; 95% CI: 0.71 to 0.90; P=0.0002), as well as in patients with PD-L1 combined positive score (CPS) ≥ 5 (OS HR 0.71; 95% CI: 0.61 to 0.83; P<0.0001).1 In an exploratory analysis of all patients, 55% of patients on Opdivo in combination with chemotherapy were alive at one year versus 48% of patients on chemotherapy alone.2 The combination also significantly reduced the risk of disease progression or death compared to chemotherapy alone (PD-L1 CPS ≥ 5: progression-free survival (PFS) HR 0.68; 95% CI: 0.58 to 0.79; P<0.0001).1
Opdivo® (nivolumab)
About CheckMate -649
CheckMate -649 is a randomized, multicenter, open-label Phase 3 trial in patients with previously untreated advanced or metastatic gastric cancer, gastroesophageal junction cancer, and esophageal adenocarcinoma.1,2 The trial excluded patients who were known human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive, or had untreated CNS metastases.1 In the trial, patients were randomized to receive Opdivo in combination with chemotherapy (patients with PD-L1 CPS ≥ 5: n=473; all randomized patients: n=789) or chemotherapy alone (patients with PD-L1 CPS ≥ 5: n=482; all randomized patients: n=792).1 Patients received one of the following treatments: Opdivo 240 mg in combination with mFOLFOX6 (fluorouracil, leucovorin and oxaliplatin) every two weeks or mFOLFOX6 every two weeks; or Opdivo 360 mg in combination with CapeOX (capecitabine and oxaliplatin) every three weeks or CapeOX every three weeks.1 Patients were treated until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or up to two years.1 The primary endpoints, assessed in patients with PD-L1 CPS ≥ 5, were PFS assessed by Blinded Independent Central Review (BICR) and OS.1 Secondary endpoints included OS and PFS in patients with PD-L1 CPS ≥1 and in all randomized patients, and overall response rate (ORR) as assessed by BICR in patients with PD-L1 CPS ≥ 1 and ≥ 5, and in all randomized patients.1,2
The FDA-approved dosing for Opdivo (injection for intravenous use) for patients with gastric cancer, gastroesophageal junction cancer, and esophageal adenocarcinoma is 360 mg every three weeks (30-minute intravenous infusion) with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy every three weeks or 240 mg every two weeks (30-minute intravenous infusion) with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy every two weeks until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or up to two years.1
INDICATION
OPDIVO® (nivolumab), in combination with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy, is indicated for the treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic gastric cancer, gastroesophageal junction cancer, and esophageal adenocarcinoma.
Please see U.S. Full Prescribing Information for OPDIVO.
FDA approves Bristol's Opdivo as first-line gastric cancer treatment
Apr. 16, 2021 1:09 PM ET
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMY)
By: Jonathan M Block, SA News Editor12 Comments
- The FDA has approved Bristol-Myers Squibb's (NYSE:BMY) Opdivo (nivolumab)as a first-line therapy for advanced or metastatic gastric cancer.
- https://seekingalpha.com/news/3682658-fda-approves-bristol-myers-squibb-opdivo-as-first-line-gastric-cancer-treatment
- https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/BMY
Opdivo (nivolumab) Plus Chemotherapy
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Plus Platinum- and Fluoropyrimidine-Based Chemotherapy
Opdivo® (nivolumab) in Combination with Chemotherapy
Neoadjuvant Opdivo (nivolumab) Plus Chemotherapy Significantly Improves Pathologic Complete Response in Patients with Resectable Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in Phase 3 CheckMate -816 Trial
04/10/2021
CATEGORY:
Nearly a quarter of patients who received Opdivo plus chemotherapy showed no evidence of cancer cells in tissue removed during surgery vs. 2.2% of patients who received chemotherapy aloneOpdivo-based therapies have now demonstrated positive results in Phase 3 trials in earlier stages of four different types of cancer: non-small cell lung cancer, esophageal/gastroesophageal junction cancer, bladder cancer and melanomaData selected for an oral presentation in a Clinical Trials Plenary Session at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021
PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) today announced results from the CheckMate -816 study, which showed that neoadjuvant treatment with three cycles of Opdivo (nivolumab) plus chemotherapy significantly improved pathologic complete response (pCR), a primary endpoint, compared to chemotherapy alone in patients with resectable stage Ib to IIIa non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In the study, 24% of patients treated with Opdivo plus chemotherapy prior to surgery achieved pCR, compared to 2.2% of patients treated with chemotherapy alone (Odds Ratio [OR] 13.94, 99% Confidence Interval [CI]: 3.49–55.75; p<0.0001), with pCR defined as no evidence of cancer cells in their resected tissue as assessed by a blinded independent pathology review. Additionally, Opdivo plus chemotherapy was well tolerated and showed consistent improvements in pCR regardless of PD-L1 expression levels, histologies or stages of disease.CheckMate -816 represents the first randomized Phase 3 study to show a significant improvement in pathological response with a neoadjuvant immunotherapy combination in patients with resectable NSCLC. The first disclosure of these data will be featured in an oral presentation during the Clinical Trials Plenary Session (Abstract #5218) at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2021 on Saturday, April 10, 2021 from 12:30-12:45 p.m. EDT.“The ultimate goal of treatment in earlier stages of cancer is to prevent the disease from coming back as we work towards a cure for these patients. Unfortunately, even when patients with resectable non-small cell lung cancer undergo surgery, the cancer returns in more than half of patients, and many then die from their disease,” said Nicolas Girard, M.D., professor and head of department, medical oncology, Institut Curie. “The pathologic complete response data from CheckMate -816 give us an early indication of the potential benefit of adding nivolumab to chemotherapy as a neoadjuvant treatment in resectable non-small cell lung cancer, and we hope that these encouraging results eventually translate into improved event-free survival and overall survival for these patients.”Opdivo plus chemotherapy also demonstrated improvements in key secondary endpoints, including major pathological response (MPR). Four times as many patients treated with Opdivo plus chemotherapy vs. chemotherapy alone achieved MPR (36.9% vs 8.9%; OR 5.70, 95% CI: 3.16-10.26), meaning 10% or less of their tumor cells remained after neoadjuvant therapy.
About CheckMate -816
CheckMate -816 is a Phase 3 randomized, open label, multi-center trial evaluating Opdivo plus chemotherapy compared to chemotherapy alone as neoadjuvant treatment in patients with resectable non-small cell lung cancer. For the primary analysis, 358 patients were randomized to receive either Opdivo 360 mg plus histology-based platinum doublet chemotherapy every three weeks for three doses, or platinum doublet chemotherapy every three weeks for three doses, followed by surgery. The primary endpoints of the trial are pathologic complete response (pCR) and event-free survival (EFS). Key secondary endpoints include overall survival (OS), major pathologic response (MPR) and time to death or distant metastases.
About Opdivo
Opdivo is a programmed death-1 (PD-1) immune checkpoint inhibitor that is designed to uniquely harness the body’s own immune system to help restore anti-tumor immune response. By harnessing the body’s own immune system to fight cancer, Opdivo has become an important treatment option across multiple cancers.Opdivo’s leading global development program is based on Bristol Myers Squibb’s scientific expertise in the field of Immuno-Oncology, and includes a broad range of clinical trials across all phases, including Phase 3, in a variety of tumor types. To date, the Opdivo clinical development program has treated more than 35,000 patients. The Opdivo trials have contributed to gaining a deeper understanding of the potential role of biomarkers in patient care, particularly regarding how patients may benefit from Opdivo across the continuum of PD-L1 expression.In July 2014, Opdivo was the first PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor to receive regulatory approval anywhere in the world. Opdivo is currently approved in more than 65 countries, including the United States, the European Union, Japan and China. In October 2015, the Company’s Opdivo and Yervoy combination regimen was the first Immuno-Oncology combination to receive regulatory approval for the treatment of metastatic melanoma and is currently approved in more than 50 countries, including the United States and the European Union.
Indications
OPDIVO® (nivolumab), as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma.OPDIVO® (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY® (ipilimumab), is indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma.OPDIVO® (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY® (ipilimumab), is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors express PD-L1 (≥1%) as determined by an FDA-approved test, with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations.OPDIVO® (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY® (ipilimumab) and 2 cycles of platinum-doublet chemotherapy, is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with metastatic or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations.OPDIVO® (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients with EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations should have disease progression on FDA-approved therapy for these aberrations prior to receiving OPDIVO.OPDIVO® (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY® (ipilimumab), is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM).OPDIVO® (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY® (ipilimumab), is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with intermediate or poor risk advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).OPDIVO® (nivolumab), in combination with cabozantinib, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).OPDIVO® (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) who have received prior anti-angiogenic therapy.OPDIVO® (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) that has relapsed or progressed after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and brentuximab vedotin or after 3 or more lines of systemic therapy that includes autologous HSCT. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.OPDIVO® (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) with disease progression on or after platinum-based therapy.OPDIVO® (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma who have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy or have disease progression within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment with platinum-containing chemotherapy. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.OPDIVO® (nivolumab), as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric (12 years and older) patients with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) that has progressed following treatment with a fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.OPDIVO® (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY® (ipilimumab), is indicated for the treatment of adults and pediatric patients 12 years and older with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) that has progressed following treatment with a fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.OPDIVO® (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who have been previously treated with sorafenib. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.OPDIVO® (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY® (ipilimumab), is indicated for the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who have been previously treated with sorafenib. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.OPDIVO® (nivolumab) is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of patients with melanoma with involvement of lymph nodes or metastatic disease who have undergone complete resection.OPDIVO® (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable advanced, recurrent or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) after prior fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-based chemotherapy.
For more information about Bristol Myers Squibb, visit us at BMS.com
https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/BMY
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab)
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Plus Platinum- and Fluoropyrimidine-Based Chemotherapy
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Plus Platinum- and Fluoropyrimidine-Based Chemotherapy
Merck’s KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Demonstrated Superior Disease-Free Survival (DFS) Compared With Placebo as Adjuvant Therapy in Patients With Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) Following Surgery
April 8, 2021 6:45 am ET
Phase 3 Data from KEYNOTE-564 to be Presented at Upcoming Medical Meeting and Submitted to Regulatory Authorities
KENILWORTH, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced that the pivotal Phase 3 KEYNOTE-564 trial evaluating KEYTRUDA, Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, met its primary endpoint of disease-free survival (DFS) for the potential adjuvant treatment of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) following nephrectomy (surgical removal of a kidney) or following nephrectomy and resection of metastatic lesions. Based on an interim analysis conducted by an independent Data Monitoring Committee, KEYTRUDA monotherapy demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningfully improvement in DFS compared with placebo. The trial will continue to evaluate overall survival (OS), a key secondary endpoint. The safety profile of KEYTRUDA in this trial was consistent with that observed in previously reported studies. Results will be presented at an upcoming medical meeting and will be submitted to regulatory authorities.
“Since its first approval in renal cell carcinoma nearly two years ago, KEYTRUDA has become an important first-line treatment option in combination with axitinib for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma,” said Dr. Roy Baynes, senior vice president and head of global clinical development, chief medical officer, Merck Research Laboratories. “These new data are the result of our research to evaluate the role of KEYTRUDA in helping patients with earlier stages of disease and are the first positive results for an anti-PD-1 therapy in the adjuvant treatment of patients with renal cell carcinoma. We look forward to sharing results of KEYNOTE-564 with the medical community and regulatory authorities as soon as possible.”
KEYTRUDA is currently approved in the U.S., Europe and Japan in combination with axitinib for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced RCC. Merck is continuing to study KEYTRUDA as monotherapy and in combination with other cancer treatments across multiple settings and stages of RCC through its broad clinical program.
About KEYNOTE-564
KEYNOTE-564 is a randomized, double-blind, Phase 3 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03142334 ) evaluating KEYTRUDA monotherapy for the adjuvant treatment of patients with RCC who have undergone nephrectomy and who have intermediate-high risk, high risk, or M1 no evidence of disease (M1 NED) RCC with clear cell component. The study enrolled 950 patients who were randomized to receive either KEYTRUDA (200 mg intravenously [IV] on Day 1 of each three-week cycle for up to 17 cycles) or placebo (saline solution IV on Day 1 of each three-week cycle for up to 17 cycles). The primary endpoint is DFS, and the secondary endpoints include OS and safety.
About KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Injection, 100 mg
KEYTRUDA is an anti-PD-1 therapy that works by increasing the ability of the body’s immune system to help detect and fight tumor cells. KEYTRUDA is a humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks the interaction between PD-1 and its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, thereby activating T lymphocytes which may affect both tumor cells and healthy cells.
Merck has the industry’s largest immuno-oncology clinical research program. There are currently more than 1,400 trials studying KEYTRUDA across a wide variety of cancers and treatment settings. The KEYTRUDA clinical program seeks to understand the role of KEYTRUDA across cancers and the factors that may predict a patient's likelihood of benefitting from treatment with KEYTRUDA, including exploring several different biomarkers.
Selected KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Indications in the U.S.
Melanoma
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma.
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of patients with melanoma with involvement of lymph node(s) following complete resection.
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
KEYTRUDA, in combination with pemetrexed and platinum chemotherapy, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations.
KEYTRUDA, in combination with carboplatin and either paclitaxel or paclitaxel protein-bound, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic squamous NSCLC.
KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with NSCLC expressing PD-L1 [tumor proportion score (TPS) ≥1%] as determined by an FDA-approved test, with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations, and is stage III where patients are not candidates for surgical resection or definitive chemoradiation, or metastatic.
KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic NSCLC whose tumors express PD-L1 (TPS ≥1%) as determined by an FDA-approved test, with disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy. Patients with EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations should have disease progression on FDA-approved therapy for these aberrations prior to receiving KEYTRUDA.
Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer
KEYTRUDA, in combination with platinum and fluorouracil (FU), is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic or with unresectable, recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic or with unresectable, recurrent HNSCC whose tumors express PD-L1 [combined positive score (CPS) ≥1] as determined by an FDA-approved test.
KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic HNSCC with disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy.
Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL).
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of pediatric patients with refractory cHL, or cHL that has relapsed after 2 or more lines of therapy.
Primary Mediastinal Large B-Cell Lymphoma
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with refractory primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL), or who have relapsed after 2 or more prior lines of therapy. KEYTRUDA is not recommended for treatment of patients with PMBCL who require urgent cytoreductive therapy.
Urothelial Carcinoma
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) who are not eligible for cisplatin-containing chemotherapy and whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS ≥10), as determined by an FDA-approved test, or in patients who are not eligible for any platinum-containing chemotherapy regardless of PD-L1 status. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) who have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy or within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment with platinum-containing chemotherapy.
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG)-unresponsive, high-risk, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with carcinoma in situ (CIS) with or without papillary tumors who are ineligible for or have elected not to undergo cystectomy.
Microsatellite Instability-High or Mismatch Repair Deficient Cancer
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with unresectable or metastatic microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR)
- solid tumors that have progressed following prior treatment and who have no satisfactory alternative treatment options, or
- colorectal cancer that has progressed following treatment with fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan.
This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials. The safety and effectiveness of KEYTRUDA in pediatric patients with MSI-H central nervous system cancers have not been established.
Microsatellite Instability-High or Mismatch Repair Deficient Colorectal Cancer
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic MSI-H or dMMR colorectal cancer (CRC).
Gastric Cancer
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent locally advanced or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS ≥1) as determined by an FDA-approved test, with disease progression on or after two or more prior lines of therapy including fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy and if appropriate, HER2/neu-targeted therapy. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.
Esophageal Cancer
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic esophageal or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) (tumors with epicenter 1 to 5 centimeters above the GEJ) carcinoma that is not amenable to surgical resection or definitive chemoradiation either:
- in combination with platinum- and fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy, or
- as a single agent after one or more prior lines of systemic therapy for patients with tumors of squamous cell histology that express PD L1 (CPS ≥10) as determined by an FDA approved test
Cervical Cancer
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer with disease progression on or after chemotherapy whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS ≥1) as determined by an FDA-approved test. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.
Hepatocellular Carcinoma
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who have been previously treated with sorafenib. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.
Merkel Cell Carcinoma
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with recurrent locally advanced or metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.
Renal Cell Carcinoma
KEYTRUDA, in combination with axitinib, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
Tumor Mutational Burden-High
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with unresectable or metastatic tumor mutational burden-high (TMB-H) [≥10 mutations/megabase] solid tumors, as determined by an FDA-approved test, that have progressed following prior treatment and who have no satisfactory alternative treatment options. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials. The safety and effectiveness of KEYTRUDA in pediatric patients with TMB-H central nervous system cancers have not been established.
Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) that is not curable by surgery or radiation.
Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
KEYTRUDA, in combination with chemotherapy, is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally recurrent unresectable or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS ≥10) as determined by an FDA-approved test. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on progression-free survival. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.
For more information, visit www.merck.com
Please see Prescribing Information for KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) at http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/k/keytruda/keytruda_pi.pdf and Medication Guide for KEYTRUDA at http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/k/keytruda/keytruda_mg.pdf.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210408005138/en/
Merck’s Keytruda succeeds in late-stage trial as monotherapy in kidney cancer
Apr. 08, 2021 2:00 PM ETMerck & Co., Inc. (MRK)By: Dulan Lokuwithana, SA News Editor7 Comments
- Merck (MRK -0.3%) says that its anti-PD-1 therapy Keytruda reached the primary endpoint of disease-free survival (“DFS”) in a pivotal Phase 3 trial as a potential adjuvant treatment of a specific category of patients with renal cell carcinoma (“RCC”).
- https://seekingalpha.com/news/3680476-mercks-keytruda-succeeds-in-late-stage-trial-as-monotherapy-in-kidney-cancer
- https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/MRK
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Plus Platinum- and Fluoropyrimidine-Based Chemotherapy
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Plus Platinum- and Fluoropyrimidine-Based Chemotherapy
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Plus Platinum- and Fluoropyrimidine-Based Chemotherapy
FDA Approves Merck’s KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Plus Platinum- and Fluoropyrimidine-Based Chemotherapy for Treatment of Certain Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Esophageal or Gastroesophageal Junction (GEJ) Carcinoma
March 23, 2021 6:45 am EST
First Anti-PD-1 in Combination With Chemotherapy Approved for the First-Line Treatment of Esophageal and GEJ Carcinoma, Regardless of Histology or PD-L1 Expression
KENILWORTH, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved KEYTRUDA, Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic esophageal or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) (tumors with epicenter 1 to 5 centimeters above the GEJ) carcinoma that is not amenable to surgical resection or definitive chemoradiation in combination with platinum- and fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy. The approval is based on results from the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-590 trial, which demonstrated significant improvements in overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR) for KEYTRUDA plus fluorouracil (FU) and cisplatin versus FU and cisplatin alone, regardless of histology or PD-L1 expression status. For OS and PFS, KEYTRUDA plus FU and cisplatin reduced the risk of death by 27% (HR=0.73 [95% CI, 0.62-0.86]; p<0.0001) and reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 35% (HR=0.65 [95% CI, 0.55-0.76]; p<0.0001) versus FU and cisplatin alone.The ORR, an additional efficacy outcome measure, was 45% (95% CI, 40-50) for patients who received KEYTRUDA plus FU and cisplatin and 29% (95% CI, 25-34) for those who received FU and cisplatin alone (p<0.0001).
Data Supporting the Approval
The approval was based on data from KEYNOTE-590 (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03189719), a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial that enrolled 749 patients with metastatic or locally advanced esophageal or GEJ (tumors with epicenter 1 to 5 centimeters above the GEJ) carcinoma who were not candidates for surgical resection or definitive chemoradiation. Patients were randomized (1:1) to receive either KEYTRUDA (200 mg on Day 1 every three weeks) or placebo (on Day 1 every three weeks) in combination with cisplatin (80 mg/m2 on Day 1 every three weeks for up to six cycles) plus FU (800 mg/m2 per day on Days 1 to 5 every three weeks, or per local standard for FU administration, for up to 24 months); all study medications were administered via intravenous infusion.Randomization was stratified by tumor histology (squamous cell carcinoma vs. adenocarcinoma), geographic region (Asia vs. ex-Asia) and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) (0 vs. 1).Treatment with KEYTRUDA or chemotherapy continued until unacceptable toxicity or disease progression. Patients could be treated with KEYTRUDA for up to 24 months in the absence of disease progression. The major efficacy outcome measures were OS and PFS, as assessed by the investigator according to RECIST v1.1 (modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of five target lesions per organ). The study pre-specified analyses of OS and PFS based on squamous cell histology, Combined Positive Score (CPS) ≥10, and in all patients. Additional efficacy outcome measures were ORR and duration of response (DOR), according to modified RECIST v1.1, as assessed by the investigator.
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Plus Platinum- and Fluoropyrimidine-Based Chemotherapy
About KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Injection, 100 mg
KEYTRUDA is an anti-PD-1 therapy that works by increasing the ability of the body’s immune system to help detect and fight tumor cells. KEYTRUDA is a humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks the interaction between PD-1 and its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, thereby activating T lymphocytes which may affect both tumor cells and healthy cells.Merck has the industry’s largest immuno-oncology clinical research program. There are currently more than 1,400 trials studying KEYTRUDA across a wide variety of cancers and treatment settings. The KEYTRUDA clinical program seeks to understand the role of KEYTRUDA across cancers and the factors that may predict a patient's likelihood of benefitting from treatment with KEYTRUDA, including exploring several different biomarkers
For more information about our oncology clinical trials, visit www.merck.com/clinicaltrials.
About Merck’s Patient Support Program for KEYTRUDA
Merck is committed to helping provide patients and their caregivers support throughout their treatment with KEYTRUDA. The KEY+YOU Patient Support Program provides a range of resources and support. For further information and to sign up, eligible patients may call 85-KEYTRUDA (855-398-7832) or visit www.keytruda.com.
For more information, visit www.merck.com Please see Prescribing Information for KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) at http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/k/keytruda/keytruda_pi.pdf and Medication Guide for KEYTRUDA at http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/k/keytruda/keytruda_mg.pdf.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005359/en/
Merck’s Keytruda authorized for a new indication in esophageal cancer
Mar. 23, 2021 11:22 AM ET
By: Dulan Lokuwithana, SA News Editor2 Comments
- Merck (MRK -1.2%) announced that the FDA has approved Keytruda for the treatment of a group of patients with locally advanced or metastatic esophageal or gastroesophageal junction (“GEJ”) carcinoma.
- https://seekingalpha.com/news/3675276-mercks-keytruda-authorized-for-a-new-indication-in-esophageal-cancer
- https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/MRK
Tecentriq ® (atezolizumab)
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Plus LENVIMA® (lenvatinib)
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Plus LENVIMA® (lenvatinib)
Sunday, Mar 21, 2021
Pivotal Phase III Study Shows Genentech’s Tecentriq Helped People With Early Lung Cancer Live Longer Without Their Disease Returning
First Phase III study to show that a cancer immunotherapy improves disease-free survival in people with resectable early stage lung cancer compared to best supportive care Treating lung cancer early, before it has spread, may help prevent the disease from returning and therefore provide the best opportunity for a cure Data will be submitted to health authorities globally, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency, and presented at an upcoming medical meeting
South San Francisco, CA -- March 21, 2021 --Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), today announced that the Phase III IMpower010 study evaluating Tecentriq ® (atezolizumab), compared with best supportive care (BSC), met its primary endpoint of disease-free survival (DFS) at the interim analysis. Tecentriq showed a statistically significant improvement in DFS as adjuvant therapy following surgery and chemotherapy in all randomized Stage II-IIIA populations with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The magnitude of DFS benefit was particularly pronounced in the PD-L1-positive population.
About the IMpower010 studyIMpower010 is a Phase III, global, multicenter, open-label, randomized study evaluating the efficacy and safety of Tecentriq compared with BSC, in participants with Stage IB-IIIA NSCLC (UICC 7th edition), following surgical resection and up to 4 cycles of adjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy. The study randomized 1,005 people with a ratio of 1:1 to receive either at most 16 cycles of Tecentriq or BSC. The primary endpoint is investigator-determined DFS in the PD-L1-positive Stage II-IIIA, all randomized Stage II-IIIA and ITT Stage IB-IIIA populations. Key secondary endpoints include OS in the overall study population, ITT Stage IB-IIIA NSCLC.
Tecentriq ® (atezolizumab)
About Tecentriq ® (atezolizumab)Tecentriq is a monoclonal antibody designed to bind with a protein called PD-L1. Tecentriq is designed to bind to PD-L1 expressed on tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating immune cells, blocking its interactions with both PD-1 and B7.1 receptors. By inhibiting PD-L1, Tecentriq may enable the re-activation of T cells. Tecentriq may also affect normal cells. https://www.tecentriq.com/
Tecentriq U.S. Indications
Tecentriq is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with:
A type of lung cancer called non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
- Tecentriq may be used alone as their first treatment when their lung cancer:
- has spread or grown, and
- their cancer tests positive for “high PD-L1”, and
- their tumor does not have an abnormal “EGFR” or “ALK” gene
- Tecentriq may be used with the medicines bevacizumab, paclitaxel, and carboplatin as their first treatment when their lung cancer:
- has spread or grown, and
- is a type called “non-squamous NSCLC,” and
- their tumor does not have an abnormal “EGFR” or “ALK” gene
- Tecentriq may be used with the medicines paclitaxel protein-bound and carboplatin as their first treatment when their lung cancer:
- has spread or grown, and
- is a type called “non-squamous NSCLC,” and
- their tumor does not have an abnormal “EGFR” or “ALK” gene
- Tecentriq may also be used when their lung cancer:
- has spread or grown, and
- they have tried chemotherapy that contains platinum, and it did not work or is no longer working
- if their tumor has an abnormal “EGFR” or “ALK” gene, they should have also tried an FDA-approved therapy for tumors with these abnormal genes, and it did not work or is no longer working
A type of lung cancer called small cell lung cancer (SCLC).
- Tecentriq may be used with the chemotherapy medicines carboplatin and etoposide as their first treatment when their lung cancer:
- is a type called “extensive-stage small cell lung cancer,” which means that it has spread or grown
It is not known if Tecentriq is safe and effective in children.
Please see http://www.Tecentriq.com for full Prescribing Information and additional Important Safety Information.For more information visit http://www.gene.com/cancer-immunotherapy.
For additional information about the company, please visit http://www.gene.com.
Genentech's Tecentriq meets late-stage lung cancer study main goal
Mar. 22, 2021 6:29 AM ET
By: Aakash Babu, SA News Editor1 Comment
- Roche (OTCQX:RHHBY) company Genentech announces that the Phase III IMpower010 study evaluating Tecentriq (atezolizumab), compared with best supportive care (BSC), met its main goal of disease-free survival (DFS) in certain patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at the interim analysis.
- https://seekingalpha.com/news/3674651-genentechs-tecentriq-meets-late-stage-lung-cancer-study-main-goal
- https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/RHHBY
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Plus LENVIMA® (lenvatinib)
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Plus LENVIMA® (lenvatinib)
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Plus LENVIMA® (lenvatinib)
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Plus LENVIMA® (lenvatinib) Significantly Improved Progression-Free Survival and Overall Survival Versus Chemotherapy in Patients With Advanced Endometrial Cancer Following Prior Platinum-Based Chemotherapy in Phase 3 Study
March 19, 2021 6:45 am EST
KEYTRUDA Plus LENVIMA Significantly Reduced the Risk of Death by 38%, With a Median Overall Survival of 18.3 Months Versus 11.4 Months With Chemotherapy Regardless of Mismatch Repair StatusFirst Results From Pivotal KEYNOTE-775/Study 309 Trial Presented at Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) 2021 Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer
KENILWORTH, N.J. & WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, and Eisai today announced the first presentation of investigational data from the pivotal Phase 3 KEYNOTE-775/Study 309 trial in an oral plenary session (Plenary Session #10191) at the virtual Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) 2021 Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer. The trial evaluated the combination of KEYTRUDA, Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, plus LENVIMA, the orally available multiple receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor discovered by Eisai, for the treatment of certain patients with advanced, metastatic or recurrent endometrial cancer following one prior platinum-based regimen in any setting.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210319005069/en/
Results were similar across the all-comer population and the pMMR subgroup. In the pMMR subgroup, KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 40% (HR=0.60 [95% CI: 0.50-0.72]; p<0.0001), with a median PFS of 6.6 months (95% CI: 5.6-7.4; number of events=247) versus 3.8 months (95% CI: 3.6-5.0; number of events=238) for patients who received TPC. KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA reduced the risk of death by 32% (HR=0.68 [95% CI: 0.56-0.84]; p=0.0001), with a median OS of 17.4 months (95% CI: 14.2-19.9; number of events=165) versus 12.0 months (95% CI: 10.8-13.3; number of events=203) for patients who received TPC. The secondary endpoint of ORR was 30.3% (95% CI: 25.5-35.5), with a CR rate of 5.2% and a PR rate of 25.1%, for patients who received KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA versus 15.1% (95% CI: 11.5-19.3), with a CR rate of 2.6% and a PR rate of 12.5%, for patients who received TPC (ORR difference versus TPC: 15.2 percentage points; p<0.0001). For patients who responded, the median DOR was 9.2 months (range: 1.6-23.7) for patients who received KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA versus 5.7 months (range: 0.0-24.2) for patients who received TPC.In the all-comer population, in the KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA arm (n=406), treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) of any grade led to discontinuation of KEYTRUDA in 18.7% of patients, of LENVIMA in 30.8% of patients, and of both in 14.0% of patients. In the TPC arm (n=388), TEAEs of any grade led to discontinuation of chemotherapy in 8.0% of patients. Grade 5 TEAEs of any cause occurred in 5.7% of patients in the KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA arm and in 4.9% of patients in the TPC arm. Grade ≥3 TEAEs occurred in 88.9% of patients in the KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA arm and in 72.7% of patients in the TPC arm. In the KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA arm, the most common TEAEs of any grade occurring in at least 25% of patients were hypertension (64.0%), hypothyroidism (57.4%), diarrhea (54.2%), nausea (49.5%), decreased appetite (44.8%), vomiting (36.7%), weight decrease (34.0%), fatigue (33.0%), arthralgia (30.5%), proteinuria (28.8%), anemia (26.1%), constipation (25.9%) and urinary tract infection (25.6%). In the TPC arm, the most common TEAEs of any grade occurring in at least 25% of patients were anemia (48.7%), nausea (46.1%), neutropenia (33.8%), alopecia (30.9%), and fatigue (27.6%). Median treatment duration was 231 days (range: 1-817) with KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA and 104.5 days (range: 1-785) with TPC.KEYNOTE-775/Study 309 is the confirmatory trial for KEYNOTE-146/Study 111, which supported the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) 2019 accelerated approval of the KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA combination for the treatment of patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma that is not MSI-H or dMMR, who have disease progression following prior systemic therapy and are not candidates for curative surgery or radiation.
KEYNOTE-775/Study 309 Trial Design (Plenary Session #10191)
KEYNOTE-775/Study 309 is a multicenter, randomized, open-label, Phase 3 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03517449) evaluating KEYTRUDA in combination with LENVIMA in patients with advanced endometrial cancer following one prior platinum-based regimen in any setting. The dual primary endpoints are PFS, as assessed by BICR per RECIST v1.1, and OS. Select secondary endpoints include ORR, as assessed by BICR per RECIST v1.1, and safety/tolerability. Of the 827 patients enrolled, 697 patients had tumors that were pMMR, and 130 patients had tumors that were dMMR. Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive:
- KEYTRUDA (200 mg intravenously [IV] every three weeks for up to 35 cycles [approximately two years]) in combination with LENVIMA (20 mg orally once daily); or
- Chemotherapy treatment of physician’s choice (TPC) of either doxorubicin (60 mg/m2 IV every three weeks for up to a maximum cumulative dose of 500 mg/m2) or paclitaxel (80 mg/m2 IV on a 28-day cycle [three weeks of receiving weekly paclitaxel and one week of not receiving paclitaxel]).
About KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Injection, 100 mg
KEYTRUDA is an anti-PD-1 therapy that works by increasing the ability of the body’s immune system to help detect and fight tumor cells. KEYTRUDA is a humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks the interaction between PD-1 and its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, thereby activating T lymphocytes which may affect both tumor cells and healthy cells.Merck has the industry’s largest immuno-oncology clinical research program. There are currently more than 1,400 trials studying KEYTRUDA across a wide variety of cancers and treatment settings. The KEYTRUDA clinical program seeks to understand the role of KEYTRUDA across cancers and the factors that may predict a patient's likelihood of benefitting from treatment with KEYTRUDA, including exploring several different biomarkers.
How KEYTRUDA + LENVIMA may help
KEYTRUDA and LENVIMA are prescribed in combination to help treat your advanced endometrial cancer. Learn more about your treatment.Results from a clinical trial https://www.keytrudalenvima.com/advanced-endometrial-cancer/
http://www.lenvima.com/
Please see Prescribing Information for KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) at http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/k/keytruda/keytruda_pi.pdf and Medication Guide for KEYTRUDA at http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/k/keytruda/keytruda_mg.pdf.
About LENVIMA® (lenvatinib) Capsules
LENVIMA® (lenvatinib) is a kinase inhibitor that is indicated:
- For the treatment of patients with locally recurrent or metastatic, progressive, radioactive iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RAI-refractory DTC)
- In combination with everolimus, for the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) following one prior anti-angiogenic therapy
- For the first-line treatment of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
- In combination with KEYTRUDA, for the treatment of patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma that is not microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR), who have disease progression following prior systemic therapy, and are not candidates for curative surgery or radiation. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trial
LENVIMA, discovered and developed by Eisai, is a kinase inhibitor that inhibits the kinase activities of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptors VEGFR1 (FLT1), VEGFR2 (KDR), and VEGFR3 (FLT4). LENVIMA inhibits other kinases that have been implicated in pathogenic angiogenesis, tumor growth, and cancer progression in addition to their normal cellular functions, including fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptors FGFR1-4, the platelet derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRα), KIT, and RET. In syngeneic mouse tumor models, lenvatinib decreased tumor-associated macrophages, increased activated cytotoxic T cells, and demonstrated greater antitumor activity in combination with an anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody compared to either treatment alone.
What is LENVIMA?LENVIMA is a prescription medicine that is used to treat certain kinds of cancer.
- LENVIMA is used by itself to treat differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC), a type of thyroid cancer that can no longer be treated with radioactive iodine and is progressing
- LENVIMA is used along with another medicine called everolimus to treat advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), a type of kidney cancer, after one course of treatment with another anti-cancer medicine
- LENVIMA is used by itself as the first treatment for a type of liver cancer called hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) when it cannot be removed by surgery
It is not known if LENVIMA is safe and effective in children.
Please see Prescribing Information for LENVIMA (lenvatinib) at http://www.lenvima.com/pdfs/prescribing-information.pdf.
About the Merck and Eisai Strategic Collaboration
In March 2018, Eisai and Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, through an affiliate, entered into a strategic collaboration for the worldwide co-development and co-commercialization of LENVIMA. Under the agreement, the companies will jointly develop, manufacture and commercialize LENVIMA, both as monotherapy and in combination with Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy KEYTRUDA.In addition to ongoing clinical studies evaluating the KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA combination across several different tumor types, the companies have jointly initiated new clinical studies through the LEAP (LEnvatinib And Pembrolizumab) clinical program and are evaluating the combination in 14 different tumor types (endometrial carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, renal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, urothelial cancer, biliary tract cancer, colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, glioblastoma, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer and triple-negative breast cancer) across more than 20 clinical trials.
For more information, visit www.merck.com
For more information about Eisai, please visit www.eisai.com (for global), us.eisai.com (for U.S.) or www.eisai.eu (for Europe, Middle East, Africa),
Merck's Keytruda combo shines in late-stage endometrial cancer study
Mar. 19, 2021 7:06 AM ET Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) By: Aakash Babu, SA News Editor
- Merck (NYSE:MRK) announces that it's late-stage study testing the combination of its blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda with tyrosine kinase inhibitor LENVIMA in certain patients with endometrial cancer, met the main goals.
- https://seekingalpha.com/news/3674343-mercks-keytruda-combo-shines-in-late-stage-endometrial-cancer-study
https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/MRK
https://us.eisai.com/who-we-are/collaboration
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab)
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Plus LENVIMA® (lenvatinib)
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab)
European Commission Approves Expanded Indication for Merck’s KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) in Adult and Pediatric Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma (cHL)
March 17, 2021 7:00 am EST
KEYTRUDA as Monotherapy Now Approved for Adult and Pediatric Patients Aged 3 years and Older with Relapsed or Refractory cHL Who Have Failed Autologous Stem Cell Transplant (ASCT) or After Two or More Lines of Therapy When ASCT is Not a Treatment OptionFirst Pediatric Indication for KEYTRUDA in the European Union
KENILWORTH, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced that the European Commission (EC) has approved an expanded label for KEYTRUDA, Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, as monotherapy for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients aged 3 years and older with relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) who have failed autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) or following at least two prior therapies when ASCT is not a treatment option. This approval is based on results from the pivotal Phase 3 KEYNOTE-204 trial, in which KEYTRUDA monotherapy demonstrated a significant improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) compared with brentuximab vedotin (BV), a commonly used treatment. KEYTRUDA reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 35% (HR=0.65 [95% CI, 0.48-0.88]; p=0.0027) and showed a median PFS of 13.2 months versus 8.3 months for patients treated with BV. The approval is also based on supportive data from an updated analysis of the KEYNOTE-087 trial; KEYNOTE-087 was the basis for the 2017 EC approval of KEYTRUDA for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory cHL who have failed ASCT and BV or who are transplant ineligible and have failed BV. This approval is the first pediatric approval for KEYTRUDA in the European Union (EU).
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab)
A BREAKTHROUGH IMMUNOTHERAPY THAT MAY HELP YOU FACE YOUR CANCER
IT’S TRU. KEYTRUDA.
SELECT A TYPE OF CANCER
- Advanced non–small cell lung cancer
- Melanoma
- Head and neck squamous cell cancer
- High-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC)
- Advanced urothelial bladder cancer
- Advanced kidney cancer (RCC)
- Advanced MSI-H/dMMR colorectal cancer
- Microsatellite instability-high cancer (MSI-H/dMMR)
- Advanced triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)
- Classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL)
- Advanced gastric cancer
- Advanced cervical cancer
- Primary mediastinal B‑cell lymphoma (PMBCL)
- Advanced liver cancer (HCC)
- Advanced Merkel cell carcinoma
- Advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
- Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC)
The approval was based on data from KEYNOTE-204 (NCT02684292), a randomized, open-label, active-controlled study conducted in 304 patients with relapsed or refractory cHL.
About KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Injection, 100 mg
KEYTRUDA is an anti-PD-1 therapy that works by increasing the ability of the body’s immune system to help detect and fight tumor cells. KEYTRUDA is a humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks the interaction between PD-1 and its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, thereby activating T lymphocytes which may affect both tumor cells and healthy cells.Merck has the industry’s largest immuno-oncology clinical research program. There are currently more than 1,300 trials studying KEYTRUDA across a wide variety of cancers and treatment settings. The KEYTRUDA clinical program seeks to understand the role of KEYTRUDA across cancers and the factors that may predict a patient's likelihood of benefitting from treatment with KEYTRUDA, including exploring several different biomarkers.
Please see Prescribing Information for KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) at http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/k/keytruda/keytruda_pi.pdf and Medication Guide for KEYTRUDA at http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/k/keytruda/keytruda_mg.pdf.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210317005185/en/
For more information, visit www.merck.com
EC OKs expanded use of Merck’s Keytruda in classical hodgkin lymphoma
Mar. 17, 2021 8:07 AM ET Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) By: Mamta Mayani, SA News Editor1 Comment
- The European Commission (EC) has approved an expanded label for Merck's (NYSE:MRK) Keytruda, an anti-PD-1 therapy, as monotherapy for the treatment of patients aged 3 years and older with relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) who have failed autologous stem cell transplan
https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/MRK
LIBTAYO® (CEMIPLIMAB)
Opdivo® (nivolumab) in Combination with Cabometyx® (cabozantinib)
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab)
LIBTAYO® (CEMIPLIMAB)
March 15, 2021 at 2:00 AM EDT
PHASE 3 TRIAL OF LIBTAYO® (CEMIPLIMAB) MONOTHERAPY IN ADVANCED CERVICAL CANCER STOPPED EARLY FOR POSITIVE RESULT ON OVERALL SURVIVAL
TARRYTOWN, N.Y. and PARIS, March 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --
Libtayo is the first immunotherapy to demonstrate improved overall survival in patients with cervical cancer, reducing the risk of death by 31% compared to chemotherapy
Trial enrolled patients with advanced cervical cancer regardless of PD-L1 status
Fourth cancer type where Libtayo has positive pivotal data; first-in-class survival results in cervical cancer follow first-in-class pivotal results in advanced BCC and advanced CSCC
Regulatory submissions planned in 2021
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) and Sanofi today announced positive results demonstrating an overall survival (OS) benefit from the Phase 3 trial investigating the PD-1 inhibitor Libtayo® (cemiplimab) monotherapy compared to chemotherapy, in patients previously treated with chemotherapy whose cervical cancer is recurrent or metastatic. The trial will be stopped early based on a unanimous recommendation by the Independent Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC), and the data will form the basis of regulatory submissions in 2021.
LIBTAYO® (CEMIPLIMAB)
About Libtayo
Libtayo is a fully-human monoclonal antibody targeting the immune checkpoint receptor PD-1 on T-cells. By binding to PD-1, Libtayo has been shown to block cancer cells from using the PD-1 pathway to suppress T-cell activation.
In the U.S., Libtayo is approved for certain patients with advanced stages of CSCC, BCC and NSCLC with ≥50% PD-L1 expression. Outside of the U.S., Libtayo is approved for certain patients with advanced CSCC in the European Union and six other countries, including Australia, Brazil, the United Kingdom and Canada.
The generic name for Libtayo in its approved U.S. indications is cemiplimab-rwlc, with rwlc as the suffix designated in accordance with Nonproprietary Naming of Biological Products Guidance for Industry issued by the FDA. Outside of the U.S., the generic name for Libtayo in its approved indication is cemiplimab.
About Regeneron's VelocImmune® Technology
Libtayo was invented using Regeneron's VelocImmune® technology that utilizes a proprietary genetically engineered mouse platform endowed with a genetically humanized immune system to produce optimized fully human antibodies. When Regeneron's co-Founder, President and Chief Scientific Officer George D. Yancopoulos was a graduate student with his mentor Frederick W. Alt in 1985, they were the first to envision making such a genetically humanized mouse, and Regeneron has spent decades inventing and developing VelocImmune and related VelociSuite® technologies. Dr. Yancopoulos and his team have used VelocImmune technology to create multiple antibodies including Libtayo® (cemiplimab-rwlc), Dupixent® (dupilumab), Praluent® (alirocumab), Kevzara® (sarilumab), Evkeeza™ (evinacumab-dgnb), Inmazeb™ (atoltivimab, maftivimab, and odesivimab-ebgn) and Regeneron's antibody cocktail for COVID-19, which was recently granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) in the U.S.
What is Libtayo?
Libtayo is a prescription medicine used to treat people with a type of skin cancer called cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) that has spread or cannot be cured by surgery or radiation.
Libtayo is a prescription medicine used to treat people with a type of skin cancer called basal cell carcinoma that cannot be removed by surgery (locally advanced BCC) and have received treatment with an HHI, or cannot receive treatment with an HHI.
Libtayo is a prescription medicine used to treat people with a type of skin cancer called basal cell carcinoma that has spread (metastatic BCC) and have received treatment with a hedgehog pathway inhibitor (HHI), or cannot receive treatment with an HHI. This use is approved based on how many patients responded to treatment and how long they responded. Studies are ongoing to provide additional information about clinical benefit.
Libtayo is a prescription medicine used to treat people with a type of lung cancer called non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Libtayo may be used as your first treatment when your lung cancer has not spread outside your chest (locally advanced lung cancer) and you cannot have surgery or chemotherapy with radiation, or your lung cancer has spread to other areas of your body (metastatic lung cancer), and your tumor tests positive for high "PD-L1" and your tumor does not have an abnormal "EGFR"," ALK "or "ROS1" gene.
It is not known if Libtayo is safe and effective in children.
Please see accompanying full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide.
View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/phase-3-trial-of-libtayo-cemiplimab-monotherapy-in-advanced-cervical-cancer-stopped-early-for-positive-result-on-overall-survival-301246954.html
SOURCE Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Financial and other information about Regeneron is routinely posted and is accessible on Regeneron's media and investor relations website (http://newsroom.regeneron.com)
Regeneron, Sanofi winds up late-stage Libtayo study after positive data in cervical cancer
Mar. 15, 2021 7:00 AM ET
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (REGN) By: Mamta Mayani, SA News Editor1 Comment
- Based on positive results on overall survival (OS), Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:REGN) and Sanofi (NASDAQ:SNY) will stop early, Phase 3 trial investigating Libtayo (cemiplimab) monotherapy compared to chemotherapy, in patients previously treated with chemotherapy whose cervical cancer is recurrent or metastatic.
- https://seekingalpha.com/news/3672496-regeneron-sanofi-winds-up-llibtayo-study-after-positive-data-in-cervical-cancer
- https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/REGN
- https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/SNY
Opdivo® (nivolumab) in Combination with Cabometyx® (cabozantinib)
Opdivo® (nivolumab) in Combination with Cabometyx® (cabozantinib)
Opdivo® (nivolumab) in Combination with Cabometyx® (cabozantinib)
Bristol Myers Squibb Receives Positive CHMP Opinion for Opdivo® (nivolumab) in Combination with Cabometyx® (cabozantinib) as First-Line Treatment for Patients with Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma
02/26/2021CATEGORY:
Recommendation based on the Phase 3 CheckMate -9ER trial, in which Opdivo in combination with Cabometyx doubled progression-free survival and significantly improved overall survival and response rates
Opdivo in combination with Cabometyx showed consistent efficacy benefits across key subgroups of patients
Opdivo in combination with Cabometyx also demonstrated a manageable safety profile, with a low rate of treatment-related discontinuations
PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) today announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended approval of Opdivo® (nivolumab) in combination with Cabometyx® (cabozantinib) for the first-line treatment of adults with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The European Commission (EC), which has the authority to approve medicines for the European Union (EU), will now review the CHMP recommendation.
Opdivo® (nivolumab) in Combination with Cabometyx® (cabozantinib)
About CheckMate -9ER
CheckMate -9ER is an open-label, randomized, multi-national Phase 3 trial evaluating patients with previously untreated advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). A total of 651 patients (23% favorable risk, 58% intermediate risk, 20% poor risk; 25% PD-L1≥1%) were randomized to receive Opdivo plus Cabometyx (n=323) vs. sunitinib (n=328). The primary endpoint is progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints include overall survival (OS) and objective response rate (ORR). The primary efficacy analysis is comparing the doublet combination vs. sunitinib in all randomized patients. The trial is sponsored by Bristol Myers Squibb and Ono Pharmaceutical Co and co-funded by Exelixis, Inc., Ipsen and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited.
About Opdivo®
Opdivo is a programmed death-1 (PD-1) immune checkpoint inhibitor that is designed to uniquely harness the body’s own immune system to help restore anti-tumor immune response. By harnessing the body’s own immune system to fight cancer, Opdivo has become an important treatment option across multiple cancers.
Opdivo’s leading global development program is based on Bristol Myers Squibb’s scientific expertise in the field of Immuno-Oncology and includes a broad range of clinical trials across all phases, including Phase 3, in a variety of tumor types. To date, the Opdivo clinical development program has treated more than 35,000 patients. The Opdivo trials have contributed to gaining a deeper understanding of the potential role of biomarkers in patient care, particularly regarding how patients may benefit from Opdivo across the continuum of PD-L1 expression.
In July 2014, Opdivo was the first PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor to receive regulatory approval anywhere in the world. Opdivo is currently approved in more than 65 countries, including the United States, the European Union, Japan and China. In October 2015, the Company’s Opdivo and Yervoy combination regimen was the first Immuno-Oncology combination to receive regulatory approval for the treatment of metastatic melanoma and is currently approved in more than 50 countries, including the United States and the European Union.
https://www.cabometyx.com/cabometyx-opdivo
CABOMETYX + OPDIVO results showed that:
People were able to live 2x LONGER without their tumor growing or spreading
People who took CABOMETYX + OPDIVO were able to live without their tumor progressing for a median† of 16.6 months compared to 8.3 months for people who took sunitinib.
†Median is the middle value in a set of the measurements—for some it was shorter; for others, longer.
TWICE AS MANY PEOPLE had meaningful reductions‡ in their tumor size
55.7% of people who took CABOMETYX + OPDIVO had reductions in tumor size, compared to 27.1% of people taking sunitinib.
Nearly TWICE AS MANY PEOPLE saw their tumors disappear completely (complete response)
CABOMETYX + OPDIVO
8% complete response
48% partial response
For more information about Bristol Myers Squibb, visit us at BMS.com
CABOMETYX is marketed by Exelixis, Inc. in the United States and by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited in Japan. Ipsen has exclusive rights for the commercialization and further clinical development of CABOMETYX outside of the U.S. and Japan. CABOMETYX is a registered trademark of Exelixis, Inc.
Bristol Myers' opdivo combo wins positive opinion from EU in kidney cancer
Feb. 26, 2021 6:59 AM ET
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMY)
By: Mamta Mayani, SA News Editor5 Comments
- The European Medicines Agency's advisory group CHMP has recommended approval of Bristol Myers Squibb's (NYSE:BMY) Opdivo (nivolumab) in combination with Exelixis’ (NASDAQ:EXEL) Cabometyx (cabozantinib) for the first-line treatment of adults with advanced renal cell carcinoma.
https://seekingalpha.com/news/3667040-ema-backs-bristol-myers-opdivo--cabometyx-in-kidney-cancer
https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/BMY
https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/EXEL
Cabozantinib Development Program
Discovered by Exelixis, and the focus of our development and commercialization efforts, Cabozantinib inhibits the activity of tyrosine kinases including MET, AXL, VEGF receptors, and RET and is recognized for its potential to treat a wide variety of cancers.
https://www.exelixis.com/cabozantinib-development-program/
What is CABOMETYX?
CABOMETYX is a prescription medicine used to treat:
- People with kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma). CABOMETYX may be used:
- Alone to treat people with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) that has spread (advanced RCC)
- In combination with nivolumab when your cancer has spread (advanced RCC), and you have not already had treatment for your advanced RCC
- People with liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) who have been previously treated with the medicine sorafenib.
It is not known if CABOMETYX is safe and effective in children.
https://www.cabometyx.com/cabometyx-opdivo
biotecNOVA™ February/January 2021/December 2020 insight
LIBTAYO® (CEMIPLIMAB-RWLC)
LIBTAYO® (CEMIPLIMAB-RWLC)
LIBTAYO® (CEMIPLIMAB-RWLC)
LIBTAYO® (CEMIPLIMAB-RWLC)
February 22, 2021 at 1:00 PM EST Back
FDA APPROVES LIBTAYO® (CEMIPLIMAB-RWLC) MONOTHERAPY FOR PATIENTS WITH FIRST-LINE ADVANCED NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER WITH PD-L1 EXPRESSION OF ≥50%
TARRYTOWN, N.Y. and PARIS, Feb. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --
Libtayo was superior in extending overall survival compared to chemotherapy in a pivotal trial that allowed for certain disease characteristics frequently underrepresented in advanced NSCLC trials
This is the third approval for Libtayo in the U.S.
LIBTAYO® (CEMIPLIMAB-RWLC)
About Libtayo
Libtayo is a fully-human monoclonal antibody targeting the immune checkpoint receptor PD-1 on T-cells. By binding to PD-1, Libtayo has been shown to block cancer cells from using the PD-1 pathway to suppress T-cell activation.
Across all of its approved indications, the recommended dose of Libtayo is 350 mg administered as an intravenous infusion over 30 minutes every three weeks, until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Libtayo is available as a single-dose 350 mg vial.
In the U.S., the generic name for Libtayo in its approved indication is cemiplimab-rwlc, with rwlc as the suffix designated in accordance with Nonproprietary Naming of Biological Products Guidance for Industry issued by the FDA. Outside of the U.S., the generic name for Libtayo in its approved indication is cemiplimab.
Libtayo was invented using Regeneron's VelocImmune® technology that utilizes a proprietary genetically-engineered mouse platform endowed with a genetically-humanized immune system to produce optimized fully-human antibodies. When Regeneron's co-Founder, President and Chief Scientific Officer George D. Yancopoulos was a graduate student with his mentor Frederick W. Alt in 1985, they were the first to envision making such a genetically-humanized mouse, and Regeneron has spent decades inventing and developing VelocImmune® and related VelociSuite® technologies. Yancopoulos and his team have used VelocImmune technology to create multiple antibodies including Dupixent® (dupilumab), Praluent® (alirocumab), Kevzara® (sarilumab), Evkeeza™ (evinacumab-dgnb), Inmazeb™ (atoltivimab, maftivimab, and odesivimab-ebgn) and Regeneron's antibody cocktail for COVID-19, which was recently granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) in the U.S.
Libtayo is being jointly developed by Sanofi and Regeneron under a global collaboration agreement.
What is Libtayo?
Libtayo is a prescription medicine used to treat people with a type of skin cancer called cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) that has spread or cannot be cured by surgery or radiation.
Libtayo is a prescription medicine used to treat people with a type of skin cancer called basal cell carcinoma that cannot be removed by surgery (locally advanced BCC) and have received treatment with a hedgehog pathway inhibitor (HHI), or cannot receive treatment with a HHI.
Libtayo is a prescription medicine used to treat people with a type of skin cancer called basal cell carcinoma that has spread (metastatic BCC) and have received treatment with a hedgehog pathway inhibitor (HHI), or cannot receive treatment with a HHI. This use is approved based on how many patients responded to treatment and how long they responded. Studies are ongoing to provide additional information about clinical benefit.
Libtayo is a prescription medicine used to treat people with a type of lung cancer called non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Libtayo may be used as your first treatment when your lung cancer has not spread outside your chest (locally advanced lung cancer) and you cannot have surgery or chemotherapy with radiation, or your lung cancer has spread to other areas of your body (metastatic lung cancer), and your tumor tests positive for high "PD-L1" and your tumor does not have an abnormal "EGFR"," ALK "or "ROS1" gene.
It is not known if Libtayo is safe and effective in children.
Please see accompanying full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide.
For additional information about the company, please visit www.regeneron.com
View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fda-approves-libtayo-cemiplimab-rwlc-monotherapy-for-patients-with-first-line-advanced-non-small-cell-lung-cancer-with-pd-l1-expression-of-50-301232638.html
SOURCE Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Regeneron and Sanofi get FDA approval for Libtayo in non-small cell lung cancer
Feb. 22, 2021 1:24 PM ETRegeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (REGN)By: Dulan Lokuwithana, SA News Editor8 Comments
- The FDA has approved LIBTAYO (cemiplimab-rwlc) as a first-line treatment for patients with locally advanced or metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer ("NSCLC"). Those with locally advanced tumors should not be candidates for surgical resection or definitive chemoradiation.
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab)
LIBTAYO® (CEMIPLIMAB-RWLC)
LIBTAYO® (CEMIPLIMAB-RWLC)
European Commission Approves KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) as First-Line Treatment in Adult Patients With Metastatic Microsatellite Instability-High (MSI-H) or Mismatch Repair Deficient (dMMR) Colorectal Cancer
January 26, 2021 6:45 am EST
KEYTRUDA Is First Checkpoint Inhibitor Approved in Europe to Treat MSI-H or dMMR Colorectal CancerEuropean Approval Based on Results From KEYNOTE-177 Trial Demonstrating KEYTRUDA Significantly Reduced Risk of Disease Progression or Death by 40% Compared With Chemotherapy
KENILWORTH, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, announced today that the European Commission has approved KEYTRUDA, Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, as a monotherapy for the first-line treatment of adult patients with metastatic microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) colorectal cancer.
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab)
About KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Injection, 100 mg
KEYTRUDA is an anti-PD-1 therapy that works by increasing the ability of the body’s immune system to help detect and fight tumor cells. KEYTRUDA is a humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks the interaction between PD-1 and its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, thereby activating T lymphocytes which may affect both tumor cells and healthy cells. Merck has the industry’s largest immuno-oncology clinical research program. There are currently more than 1,300 trials studying KEYTRUDA across a wide variety of cancers and treatment settings. The KEYTRUDA clinical program seeks to understand the role of KEYTRUDA across cancers and the factors that may predict a patient's likelihood of benefitting from treatment with KEYTRUDA, including exploring several different biomarkers. Selected KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Indications in the U.S. Melanoma KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma. KEYTRUDA is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of patients with melanoma with involvement of lymph node(s) following complete resection.Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer KEYTRUDA, in combination with pemetrexed and platinum chemotherapy, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations. KEYTRUDA, in combination with carboplatin and either paclitaxel or paclitaxel protein-bound, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic squamous NSCLC.KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with NSCLC expressing PD-L1 [tumor proportion score (TPS) ≥1%] as determined by an FDA-approved test, with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations, and is stage III where patients are not candidates for surgical resection or definitive chemoradiation, or metastatic. KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic NSCLC whose tumors express PD-L1 (TPS ≥1%) as determined by an FDA-approved test, with disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy. Patients with EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations should have disease progression on FDA-approved therapy for these aberrations prior to receiving KEYTRUDA. Small Cell Lung Cancer KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic small cell lung cancer (SCLC) with disease progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy and at least 1 other prior line of therapy. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials. Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer KEYTRUDA, in combination with platinum and fluorouracil (FU), is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic or with unresectable, recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic or with unresectable, recurrent HNSCC whose tumors express PD-L1 [combined positive score (CPS) ≥1] as determined by an FDA-approved test. KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic HNSCC with disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy. Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL).KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of pediatric patients with refractory cHL, or cHL that has relapsed after 2 or more lines of therapy. Primary Mediastinal Large B-Cell Lymphoma KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with refractory primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL), or who have relapsed after 2 or more prior lines of therapy. KEYTRUDA is not recommended for treatment of patients with PMBCL who require urgent cytoreductive therapy. Urothelial CarcinomaKEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) who are not eligible for cisplatin-containing chemotherapy and whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS ≥10), as determined by an FDA-approved test, or in patients who are not eligible for any platinum-containing chemotherapy regardless of PD-L1 status. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials. KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) who have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy or within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment with platinum-containing chemotherapy. KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG)-unresponsive, high-risk, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with carcinoma in situ (CIS) with or without papillary tumors who are ineligible for or have elected not to undergo cystectomy. Microsatellite Instability-High or Mismatch Repair Deficient Cancer KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with unresectable or metastatic microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR)
- solid tumors that have progressed following prior treatment and who have no satisfactory alternative treatment options, or
- colorectal cancer that has progressed following treatment with fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan.
This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials. The safety and effectiveness of KEYTRUDA in pediatric patients with MSI-H central nervous system cancers have not been established. Microsatellite Instability-High or Mismatch Repair Deficient Colorectal Cancer KEYTRUDA is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic MSI-H or dMMR colorectal cancer (CRC).Gastric Cancer KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent locally advanced or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS ≥1) as determined by an FDA-approved test, with disease progression on or after two or more prior lines of therapy including fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy and if appropriate, HER2/neu-targeted therapy. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials. Esophageal CancerKEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent locally advanced or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS ≥10) as determined by an FDA-approved test, with disease progression after one or more prior lines of systemic therapy. Cervical Cancer KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer with disease progression on or after chemotherapy whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS ≥1) as determined by an FDA-approved test. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.Hepatocellular CarcinomaKEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who have been previously treated with sorafenib. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials. Merkel Cell Carcinoma KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with recurrent locally advanced or metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.Renal Cell Carcinoma KEYTRUDA, in combination with axitinib, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).Tumor Mutational Burden-HighKEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with unresectable or metastatic tumor mutational burden-high (TMB-H) [≥10 mutations/megabase] solid tumors, as determined by an FDA-approved test, that have progressed following prior treatment and who have no satisfactory alternative treatment options. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials. The safety and effectiveness of KEYTRUDA in pediatric patients with TMB-H central nervous system cancers have not been established. Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) that is not curable by surgery or radiation. Triple-Negative Breast Cancer KEYTRUDA, in combination with chemotherapy, is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally recurrent unresectable or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS ≥10) as determined by an FDA-approved test. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on progression-free survival. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.https://www.keytruda.com/
Please see Prescribing Information for KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) at http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/k/keytruda/keytruda_pi.pdf and Medication Guide for KEYTRUDA at http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/k/keytruda/keytruda_mg.pdf.
For more information, visit www.merck.com
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210126005148/en/
Merck’s Keytruda gets European approval in colorectal cancer
Jan. 26, 2021 7:24 AM ET Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK)
By: Dulan Lokuwithana, SA News Editor1 Comment
- Merck (NYSE:MRK) announced that the European Commission has approved Keytruda as a monotherapy for adults with colorectal cancer.
https://seekingalpha.com/news/3654260-mercks-keytruda-gets-european-approval-in-colorectal-cancer
https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/MRK
Calquence (acalabrutinib)
LIBTAYO® (CEMIPLIMAB-RWLC)
CABOMETYX® (cabozantinib) in Combination with OPDIVO® (nivolumab)
Calquence approved in Japan for the treatment of relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
PUBLISHED 25 January 2021
25 January 2021 07:05 GMT
88% of patients on Calquence remained free of disease progression after 12 months vs. 68% for comparators
AstraZeneca’s Calquence (acalabrutinib), a next-generation, selective Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, has been approved in Japan for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) (including small lymphocytic lymphoma [SLL]).
Calquence (acalabrutinib)
What is CALQUENCE?
CALQUENCE is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) who have received at least one prior treatment for their cancer, or adults with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL).
It is not known if CALQUENCE is safe and effective in children.
Please see full Prescribing Information, including Patient Information.
In the ASCEND trial, Calquence reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 69% (hazard ratio, 0.31; 95% confidence interval, 0.20-0.49, p<0.0001). These results were published in Journal of Clinical Oncology in 2020.1
Please visit astrazeneca.com
AstraZeneca's Calquence successful in lymphocytic leukaemia study
Jan. 25, 2021 6:41 AM ET AstraZeneca PLC (AZN)
By: Mamta Mayani, SA News Editor2 Comments
- AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) announces positive results from the ELEVATE-RR Phase III trial which showed that Calquence (acalabrutinib) met the primary endpoint demonstrating non-inferior progression-free survival (PFS) for adults with previously treated, high-risk chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) compared to ibrutinib.
https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/AZN
CABOMETYX® (cabozantinib) in Combination with OPDIVO® (nivolumab)
CABOMETYX® (cabozantinib) in Combination with OPDIVO® (nivolumab)
CABOMETYX® (cabozantinib) in Combination with OPDIVO® (nivolumab)
CABOMETYX® (cabozantinib) in Combination with OPDIVO® (nivolumab)
Exelixis Announces U.S. FDA Approval of CABOMETYX® (cabozantinib) in Combination with OPDIVO® (nivolumab) as a First-Line Treatment for Patients with Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma PDF Version
– FDA approval based on CheckMate -9ER trial, in which the combination of CABOMETYX and OPDIVO significantly improved overall survival while doubling progression-free survival and objective response rate versus sunitinib as a first-line treatment for patients with advanced RCC –
– Exelixis prepared to fully support expanded indication immediately –
– Application approved prior to Prescription Drug User Fee Act action date of February 20, 2021 and reviewed under the Real-Time Oncology Review pilot program –
ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 22, 2021-- Exelixis, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXEL) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved CABOMETYX® (cabozantinib) for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) as a first-line treatment in combination with OPDIVO® (nivolumab). RCC is the most common form of kidney cancer, which is among the 10 most frequently diagnosed cancers in the U.S. annually.1
CABOMETYX® (cabozantinib) in Combination with OPDIVO® (nivolumab)
Press Release
Exelixis Announces U.S. FDA Approval of CABOMETYX® (cabozantinib) in Combination with OPDIVO® (nivolumab) as a First-Line Treatment for Patients with Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma PDF Version
– FDA approval based on CheckMate -9ER trial, in which the combination of CABOMETYX and OPDIVO significantly improved overall survival while doubling progression-free survival and objective response rate versus sunitinib as a first-line treatment for patients with advanced RCC –
– Exelixis prepared to fully support expanded indication immediately –
– Application approved prior to Prescription Drug User Fee Act action date of February 20, 2021 and reviewed under the Real-Time Oncology Review pilot program –
ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 22, 2021-- Exelixis, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXEL) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved CABOMETYX® (cabozantinib) for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) as a first-line treatment in combination with OPDIVO® (nivolumab). RCC is the most common form of kidney cancer, which is among the 10 most frequently diagnosed cancers in the U.S. annually.1
“This combination of cabozantinib and nivolumab significantly improved key efficacy measures compared to sunitinib – progression-free survival, overall survival and objective response rate – while showing a low rate of treatment discontinuations due to side effects. The therapeutic benefit demonstrated in CheckMate -9ER and quality of life measures explored emphasize the role of this combination for patients with advanced kidney cancer,” said Dr. Toni Choueiri, Director of the Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jerome and Nancy Kohlberg Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. “With this important FDA approval, the combination is poised to become a standard in newly diagnosed metastatic kidney cancer.”
The approval is based on results from CheckMate -9ER, a phase 3 pivotal trial evaluating the combination of CABOMETYX and OPDIVO compared with sunitinib in previously untreated advanced or metastatic RCC. These results were presented during the European Society of Medical Oncology Virtual Congress 2020 in September. The FDA reviewed the application for CABOMETYX and OPDIVO under the Real-Time Oncology Review (RTOR) pilot program and Fast Track designation. The RTOR pilot program, which allows an applicant to pre-submit components of the application to allow the FDA to review clinical trial data before the complete filing is submitted, aims to explore a more efficient review process to ensure safe and effective treatments are available to patients sooner.
“As the only combination treatment regimen to double median progression-free survival and objective response rate compared with sunitinib while also significantly improving overall survival, we are excited that CABOMETYX in combination with OPDIVO is now available for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced kidney cancer,” said Michael M. Morrissey, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Exelixis. “This approval is a meaningful milestone for this patient community and speaks to the broad potential of CABOMETYX as we continue to generate important clinical trial results supporting its use in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors to benefit patients with other difficult-to-treat cancers. We would like to thank the clinical trial participants, the physicians and their staff who participated in the CheckMate -9ER trial and to acknowledge the team at the FDA for their collaboration during the review of our application.”
In CheckMate -9ER, the combination regimen significantly improved overall survival (OS) compared with sunitinib (HR= 0.60, 98.89% CI 0.40-0.89; p=0.001). Median OS has not yet been reached in either treatment arm. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was doubled at 16.6 months for CABOMETYX in combination with OPDIVO compared with 8.3 months for sunitinib (HR 0.51, 95% CI 0.41-0.64; p<0.0001). Objective response rate (ORR) was also doubled: 56% with CABOMETYX in combination with OPDIVO and 27% with sunitinib (p<0.0001). Consistent results for PFS were observed across subgroups of International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium risk status and PD-L1 tumor expression with CABOMETYX in combination with OPDIVO.
CABOMETYX in combination with OPDIVO was generally well tolerated and reflected the known safety profiles of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor and immunotherapy components in previously untreated advanced RCC. The most common adverse reactions reported in at least 20% of patients treated with CABOMETYX in combination with OPDIVO were diarrhea, fatigue, hepatotoxicity, palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia, stomatitis, rash, hypertension, hypothyroidism, musculoskeletal pain, decreased appetite, nausea, dysgeusia, abdominal pain, cough and upper respiratory tract infection. The discontinuation rate due to all causality adverse events in the CABOMETYX in combination with OPDIVO arm was 20% for either CABOMETYX or OPDIVO (8% for CABOMETYX only, 7% for OPDIVO only and 6% for both CABOMETYX and OPDIVO due to the same adverse event at the same time).
About CABOMETYX® (cabozantinib)
In the U.S., CABOMETYX tablets are approved for the treatment of patients with advanced RCC; for the treatment of patients with HCC who have been previously treated with sorafenib; and for patients with advanced RCC as a first-line treatment in combination with OPDIVO (nivolumab). CABOMETYX tablets have also received regulatory approvals in the European Union and additional countries and regions worldwide. In 2016, Exelixis granted Ipsen exclusive rights for the commercialization and further clinical development of cabozantinib outside of the United States and Japan. In 2017, Exelixis granted exclusive rights to Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited for the commercialization and further clinical development of cabozantinib for all future indications in Japan. Exelixis holds the exclusive rights to develop and commercialize cabozantinib in the United States.
Please see accompanying full Prescribing Information https://cabometyx.com/downloads/CABOMETYXUSPI.pdf.
For more information about Exelixis, please visit www.exelixis.com
Exelixis Announces U.S. FDA Approval of CABOMETYX® (cabozantinib) in Combination with OPDIVO® (nivolumab) as a First-Line Treatment for Patients with Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma
Fri January 22, 2021 1:10 PM| Business Wire|About: EXEL
– FDA approval based on CheckMate -9ER trial, in which the combination of CABOMETYX and OPDIVO significantly improved overall survival while doubling progression-free survival and objective response rate versus sunitinib as a first-line treatment for patients with advanced RCC –
– Exelixis (EXEL) prepared to fully support expanded indication immediately –
– Application approved prior to Prescription Drug User Fee Act action date of February 20, 2021 and reviewed under the Real-Time Oncology Review pilot program –
ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Exelixis, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXEL)
Exelixis' CABOMETYX-OPDIVO combo wins FDA approval for renal cell carcinoma
Jan. 22, 2021 1:25 PM ET Exelixis, Inc. (EXEL)
By: Aakash Babu, SA News Editor9 Comments
- Exelixis (EXEL +2.6%) announces that the FDA has approved its CABOMETYX (cabozantinib) drug in combination with Bristol-Myers Squibb's (BMY +1.2%) OPDIVO (nivolumab) for treating patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in the first-line setting.
Opdivo® (nivolumab)
CABOMETYX® (cabozantinib) in Combination with OPDIVO® (nivolumab)
XALKORI® (CRIZOTINIB)
U.S. Food and Drug Administration Accepts for Priority Review Application for Opdivo® (nivolumab) Combined with Chemotherapy as First-Line Treatment in Metastatic Gastric Cancer, Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma
01/20/2021CATEGORY:
U.S. Food and Drug Administration assigned a target action date of May 25, 2021PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted its supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for Opdivo® (nivolumab), in combination with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy, for the treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic gastric cancer, gastroesophageal junction cancer (GEJC) or esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), based on results from the CheckMate -649 trial. The FDA granted the application Priority Review and assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date of May 25, 2021.
Opdivo® (nivolumab) Combined with Chemotherapy
About Opdivo ®Opdivo is a programmed death-1 (PD-1) immune checkpoint inhibitor that is designed to uniquely harness the body’s own immune system to help restore anti-tumor immune response. By harnessing the body’s own immune system to fight cancer, Opdivo has become an important treatment option across multiple cancers.Opdivo’s leading global development program is based on Bristol Myers Squibb’s scientific expertise in the field of Immuno-Oncology and includes a broad range of clinical trials across all phases, including Phase 3, in a variety of tumor types. To date, the Opdivo clinical development program has treated more than 35,000 patients. The Opdivo trials have contributed to gaining a deeper understanding of the potential role of biomarkers in patient care, particularly regarding how patients may benefit from Opdivo across the continuum of PD-L1 expression.In July 2014, Opdivo was the first PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor to receive regulatory approval anywhere in the world. Opdivo is currently approved in more than 65 countries, including the United States, the European Union, Japan and China. In October 2015, the Company’s Opdivo and Yervoy combination regimen was the first Immuno-Oncology combination to receive regulatory approval for the treatment of metastatic melanoma and is currently approved in more than 50 countries, including the United States and the European Union.
INDICATIONSOPDIVO® (nivolumab), as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma.OPDIVO® (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY® (ipilimumab), is indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma.OPDIVO® (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY® (ipilimumab), is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors express PD-L1 (≥1%) as determined by an FDA-approved test, with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations.OPDIVO® (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY® (ipilimumab) and 2 cycles of platinum-doublet chemotherapy, is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with metastatic or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations.OPDIVO® (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients with EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations should have disease progression on FDA-approved therapy for these aberrations prior to receiving OPDIVO.OPDIVO® (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic small cell lung cancer (SCLC) with progression after platinum-based chemotherapy and at least one other line of therapy. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.OPDIVO® (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY® (ipilimumab), is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM).OPDIVO® (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) who have received prior anti-angiogenic therapy.OPDIVO® (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY® (ipilimumab), is indicated for the treatment of patients with intermediate or poor risk, previously untreated advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).OPDIVO® (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) that has relapsed or progressed after autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and brentuximab vedotin or after 3 or more lines of systemic therapy that includes autologous HSCT. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.OPDIVO® (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) with disease progression on or after platinum-based therapy.OPDIVO® (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma who have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy or have disease progression within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment with platinum-containing chemotherapy. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.OPDIVO® (nivolumab), as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric (12 years and older) patients with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) that has progressed following treatment with a fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.OPDIVO® (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY® (ipilimumab), is indicated for the treatment of adults and pediatric patients 12 years and older with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) that has progressed following treatment with a fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.OPDIVO® (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who have been previously treated with sorafenib. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.OPDIVO® (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY® (ipilimumab), is indicated for the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who have been previously treated with sorafenib. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.OPDIVO® (nivolumab) is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of patients with melanoma with involvement of lymph nodes or metastatic disease who have undergone complete resection.OPDIVO® (nivolumab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable advanced, recurrent or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) after prior fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-based chemotherapy.https://www.opdivo.com/
U.S. Food and Drug Administration Accepts for Priority Review Application for Opdivo® (nivolumab) as Adjuvant Therapy for Patients with Resected Esophageal or Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer
Wed January 20, 2021 6:59 AM|Business Wire|About: BMY U.S. Food and Drug Administration assigned a target action date of May 20, 2021Application based on Phase 3 CheckMate -577 trial, in which Opdivo doubled median disease-free survival versus placebo in patients with esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer following neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy and surgeryOpdivo demonstrated a manageable safety profile consistent with prior studies
PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY)
XALKORI® (CRIZOTINIB)
CABOMETYX® (cabozantinib) in Combination with OPDIVO® (nivolumab)
XALKORI® (CRIZOTINIB)
PFIZER’S XALKORI® (CRIZOTINIB) APPROVED BY FDA FOR ALK-POSITIVE ANAPLASTIC LARGE CELL LYMPHOMA IN CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS
Thursday, January 14, 2021 - 04:30pm
XALKORI is the first biomarker-driven therapy for relapsed or refractory ALCL in young people
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for XALKORI® (crizotinib) for the treatment of pediatric patients 1 year of age and older and young adults with relapsed or refractory, systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) that is anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive. The safety and efficacy of XALKORI have not been established in older adults with relapsed or refractory, systemic ALK-positive ALCL. ALCL is a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and accounts for approximately 30% of cases of NHL in young people.1,2,3 Approximately 90% of ALCL cases in young people are ALK-positive.4,5,6
XALKORI® (CRIZOTINIB)
About XALKORI® (crizotinib)
XALKORI is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic NSCLC whose tumors are ALK- or ROS1-positive as detected by an FDA-approved test. In addition to the United States, XALKORI has received approval for patients with ALK-positive NSCLC in more than 90 countries including Australia, Canada, China, Japan, South Korea and the European Union. XALKORI is also approved for ROS1-positive NSCLC in more than 70 countries.
XALKORI is indicated for the treatment of pediatric patients 1 year of age and older and young adults with relapsed or refractory, systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) that is ALK-positive. The safety and efficacy of XALKORI have not been established in older adults with relapsed or refractory, systemic ALK-positive ALCL.
The full prescribing information for XALKORI can be found here.
IMPORTANT XALKORI® (crizotinib) SAFETY INFORMATION FROM THE U.S. PRESCRIBING INFORMATION
to learn more, please visit us on www.Pfizer.com
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210114006005/en/
Pfizer’s XALKORI® (crizotinib) Approved by FDA for ALK-positive Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma in Children and Young Adults
Thu January 14, 2021 4:30 PM| Business Wire|About: PFE
XALKORI is the first biomarker-driven therapy for relapsed or refractory ALCL in young people
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pfizer Inc. (PFE)
Pfizer’s XALKORI wins FDA's expanded approval for a form of lymphoma
Jan. 14, 2021 4:44 PM ET Pfizer Inc. (PFE)By: Aakash Babu, SA News Editor3 Comments
- The FDA has approved Pfizer's (NYSE:PFE) supplemental New Drug Application ((sNDA)) for XALKORI (crizotinib) for the treatment of pediatric patients 1 year of age and older and young adults with relapsed or refractory, systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) that is anaplastic lymphoma kinase positive.
https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/PFE
XALKORI® (CRIZOTINIB)
Indications
XALKORI is a prescription medicine used to treat people with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that has spread to other parts of the body and is caused by a defect in either a gene called ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase) or a gene called ROS1. It is not known if XALKORI is safe and effective in children.
IMFINZI® (durvalumab
Jardiance® (empagliflozin)
IMBRUVICA® (ibrutinib)
Imfinzi (durvalumab)
15 January 2021 07:00 GMT
Imfinzi approved in the EU for less-frequent, fixed-
dose use in unresectable non-small cell lung cancer
New option extends dosing from two to four weeks,
reducing medical visits and improving patient convenience
AstraZeneca's Imfinzi (durvalumab) has been approved in the European Union and the UK for an additional dosing option, a 1,500mg fixed dose every four weeks, in locally advanced, unresectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in adults whose tumours express PD-L1 on at least 1% of tumour cells and whose disease has not progressed following platinum-based chemoradiation therapy (CRT).
AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi additional dosing option OK'd in the EU/UK
Jan. 15, 2021 7:27 AM ET AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) By: Vandana Singh, SA News Editor
- AstraZeneca's (NASDAQ:AZN) Imfinzi (durvalumab) has been approved in the EU and the U.K. for an additional dosing option. New dosing is a 1,500mg fixed dose every four weeks, in locally advanced, unresectable non-small cell lung cancer in adults whose tumors express PD-L1 on at least 1% of tumor cells and whose disease has not progressed following platinum-based chemoradiation therapy.
https://seekingalpha.com/news/3651756-astrazeneca-s-imfinzi-additional-dosing-option-okd-in-eu-uk
https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/AZN
Imfinzi (durvalumab)
IMFINZI® (durvalumab) is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with a type of cancer in the bladder and urinary tract called urothelial carcinoma. IMFINZI may be used when your urothelial carcinoma has spread or cannot be removed by surgery, and chemotherapy containing platinum did not work or is no longer working. IMFINZI was FDA approved for this use based on a clinical study that measured how many patients responded and how long they responded. The study is ongoing to confirm clinical benefit.
IMFINZI is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with a type of lung cancer called non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). IMFINZI may be used when your NSCLC has not spread outside your chest, cannot be removed by surgery, and has responded or stabilized with initial treatment with chemotherapy that contains platinum, given at the same time as radiation therapy.
IMFINZI is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with a type of lung cancer called small cell lung cancer (SCLC). IMFINZI may be used with the chemotherapy medicines etoposide and carboplatin or cisplatin as your first treatment when your SCLC has spread within your lungs or to other parts of the body (extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, or ES-SCLC).
It is not known if IMFINZI is safe and effective in children.
. Please visit astrazeneca.com
IMBRUVICA® (ibrutinib)
Jardiance® (empagliflozin)
IMBRUVICA® (ibrutinib)
Health Canada Approves IMBRUVICA®* (ibrutinib) Plus Rituximab for the Treatment of Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
Wed January 13, 2021 7:30 AM| Canada Newswire| About: JNJ Patients aged 70 or younger with previously untreated CLL lived longer without disease progression compared to patients treated with FCR, a chemoimmunotherapy regimen TORONTO, Jan. 13, 2021 /CNW/ - The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) announced today that Health Canada has approved IMBRUVICA® (ibrutinib) in combination with rituximab for the treatment of patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).i Today's milestone marks the tenth Health Canada approval for IMBRUVICA® across five disease areas and is the fifth approval for IMBRUVICA® in CLL.ii
IMBRUVICA®* (ibrutinib)
About IMBRUVICA® IMBRUVICA® contains the medicinal ingredient ibrutinib which is a targeted inhibitor of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK), and it is the only once-daily BTK inhibitor in Canada. Ibrutinib blocks BTK activity, inhibiting cancer cell survival and spread.xvIMBRUVICA® was first approved in Canada in 2014. It is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL),xvi including those with 17p deletion; or adult patients with CLL who have received at least one prior therapy, including those with 17p deletion.xvii It is indicated in combination with bendamustine and rituximab for the treatment of adult patients with CLL who have received at least one prior therapy, and in combination with obinutuzumab for treatment-naïve adult patients with CLL.xviii It is now also indicated in combination with rituximab for the treatment of adult patients with previously untreated CLL.xixFor adult patients with Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM), IMBRUVICA® is indicated as a single agent or in combination with rituximab.xx Other indications are for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL); patients with marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) who require systemic therapy and have received at least one prior anti-CD20-based therapy; and for patients with steroid dependent or refractory chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD).xxiIMBRUVICA® is co-developed by Cilag GmbH International (a member of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies) and Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie company. Janssen Inc. commercializes IMBRUVICA® in Canada.https://imbruvica.com/
Learn more at www.janssen.com/canada.
Johnson & Johnson's Imbruvica combo OK'd in Canada in CLL setting
Jan. 13, 2021 8:25 AM ET Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) By: Aakash Babu, SA News Editor
- Health Canada has approved Johnson & Johnson's (NYSE:JNJ)
https://seekingalpha.com/news/3651021-johnson-johnsons-imbruvica-combo-okd-in-canada-in-cll-setting
https://www.janssen.com/canada/
https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/JNJ
Jardiance® (empagliflozin)
Jardiance® (empagliflozin)
Jardiance® (empagliflozin)
US FDA accepts supplemental New Drug Application for Jardiance® (empagliflozin) for adults with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction
January 11, 2021Download PDFRIDGEFIELD, Conn. and INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for Jardiance® (empagliflozin) which is being investigated as a potential new treatment to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure and to slow kidney function decline in adults with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, including those with and without type 2 diabetes, Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) announced.
- EMPEROR-Reduced [NCT03057977] investigated the safety and efficacy of Jardiance in patients with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).
- Primary composite endpoint: time to first event of adjudicated cardiovascular death or adjudicated hospitalization for heart failure
- Number of patients: 3,730
- Completion: 2020
- EMPEROR-Preserved [NCT03057951] investigates the safety and efficacy of Jardiance in patients with chronic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).
- Primary composite endpoint: time to first event of adjudicated cardiovascular death or adjudicated hospitalization for heart failure [Time Frame: up to 38 months]
- Anticipated number of patients: approx. 5,990
- Estimated completion: 2021
Jardiance® (empagliflozin) What is JARDIANCE? (www.jardiance.com) JARDIANCE is a prescription medicine used along with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.JARDIANCE is also used to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death in adults with type 2 diabetes who have known cardiovascular disease. JARDIANCE is not for people with type 1 diabetes or for people with diabetic ketoacidosis (increased ketones in the blood or urine).
For more information, please see Prescribing Information and Medication Guide.
For more information, please visit www.boehringer-ingelheim.us
About Lilly Diabetes Lilly has been a global leader in diabetes care since 1923, when we introduced the world's first commercial insulin. Today we are building upon this heritage by working to meet the diverse needs of people with diabetes and those who care for them. Through research, collaboration and quality manufacturing we strive to make life better for people affected by diabetes and related conditions. We work to deliver breakthrough outcomes through innovative solutions—from medicines and technologies to support programs and more. For the latest updates, visit http://www.lillydiabetes.com/ or follow us on Twitter: @LillyDiabetes and Facebook: LillyDiabetesUS.
Jardiance® and EMPA-REG OUTCOME® are registered trademarks of Boehringer Ingelheim.
https://www.jardiance.com/
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https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/LLY
FARXIGA® (dapagliflozin)
FARXIGA® (dapagliflozin)
Jardiance® (empagliflozin)
FARXIGA® (dapagliflozin)
FARXIGA granted Priority Review in the US for the treatment of patients with chronic kidney disease
PUBLISHED6 January 2021
FARXIGA could become the first SGLT2 inhibitor approved to treat
patients with chronic kidney disease, with and without type 2 diabetes
AstraZeneca’s FARXIGA (dapagliflozin) has been granted Priority Review in the US for the treatment of new or worsening chronic kidney disease (CKD) in adults with and without type 2 diabetes (T2D).
In March 2020, an independent Data Monitoring Committee recommended the trial be stopped early, based on its determination of overwhelming efficacy. Detailed results from the DAPA-CKD trial were shared in August 2020 and published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
FARXIGA® (dapagliflozin)
Please see accompanying US Full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for FARXIGA.
What is FARXIGA?
FARXIGA is a prescription medicine used to:
improve blood sugar control along with diet and exercise in adults with type 2 diabetes
reduce the risk of hospitalization for heart failure in adults with type 2 diabetes and known cardiovascular disease or multiple cardiovascular risk factors
reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure in adults with heart failure (when the heart is weak and cannot pump enough blood to the rest of your body)
FARXIGA should not be used to treat people with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis (increased ketones in your blood or urine).
For more information, please visit www.astrazeneca-us.com
FARXIGA Granted Priority Review in the US for the Treatment of Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease
Wed January 6, 2021 7:00 AM |Business Wire| About: AZN
FARXIGA could become the first SGLT2 inhibitor approved to treat patients with chronic kidney disease, with and without type 2 diabetes
WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AstraZeneca’s FARXIGA (dapagliflozin) has been granted Priority Review in the US for the treatment of new or worsening chronic kidney disease (CKD) in adults with and without type 2 diabetes (T2D).
https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/AZN
AstraZeneca’s Farxiga nabs U.S.
Priority Review for CKD
Jan. 06, 2021 9:15 AM ET AstraZeneca PLC (AZN) By: Vandana Singh, SA News Editor
https://seekingalpha.com/news/3649261-astrazeneca-s-farxiga-nabs-u-s-priority-review-for-ckd
Lynparza (olaparib)
FARXIGA® (dapagliflozin)
IMBRUVICA® (ibrutinib)
Lynparza (olaparib)
Lynparza approved in Japan for the treatment of advanced ovarian, prostate and pancreatic cancers
PUBLISHED28 December 2020
28 December 2020 07:00 GMT
Approvals based on the PAOLA-1, PROfound and POLO Phase III trials
AstraZeneca and MSD’s Lynparza (olaparib) has been approved in Japan for the treatment of advanced ovarian, prostate and pancreatic cancers.
Lynparza (olaparib)
WHAT IS LYNPARZA?
LYNPARZA is a prescription medicine used to treat adults who have:
- advanced ovarian cancer, fallopian tube cancer, or primary peritoneal cancer with a certain type of inherited (germline) or acquired (somatic) abnormal BRCA gene. LYNPARZA is used alone as maintenance treatment after the cancer has responded to your first treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy. Your healthcare provider will perform a test to make sure that LYNPARZA is right for you
- advanced ovarian cancer, fallopian tube cancer, or primary peritoneal cancer with a certain type of abnormal BRCA gene or a positive laboratory tumor test for genomic instability called HRD. LYNPARZA is used in combination with another anti-cancer medicine, bevacizumab, as maintenance treatment after the cancer has responded to your first treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy. Your healthcare provider will perform a test to make sure that LYNPARZA is right for you
- ovarian cancer, fallopian tube cancer, or primary peritoneal cancer, as maintenance treatment, when the cancer has come back. LYNPARZA is used after the cancer has responded to treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy
- advanced ovarian cancer with a certain type of abnormal inherited BRCA gene, and have received treatment with 3 or more prior types of chemotherapy medicines. Your healthcare provider will perform a test to make sure that LYNPARZA is right for you
- a certain type of abnormal inherited BRCA gene, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic). You should have received chemotherapy medicines, either before or after your cancer has spread. If you have hormone receptor (HR)-positive disease, you should have been treated with hormonal therapy. Your healthcare provider will perform a test to make sure that LYNPARZA is right for you
- metastatic pancreatic cancer with a certain type of abnormal inherited BRCA gene. LYNPARZA is used as a maintenance treatment after your cancer has not progressed on at least 16 weeks of treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy. Your healthcare provider will perform a test to make sure LYNPARZA is right for you
- prostate cancer with certain inherited or acquired abnormal genes called homologous recombination repair (HRR genes). LYNPARZA is used when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic), and no longer responds to a medical or surgical treatment that lowers testosterone, and has progressed after treatment with enzalutamide or abiraterone. Your healthcare provider will perform a test to make sure LYNPARZA is right for you
It is not known if LYNPARZA is safe and effective in children.
Lynparza
Lynparza (olaparib) is a first-in-class PARP inhibitor and the first targeted treatment to block DNA damage response (DDR) in cells/tumours harbouring a deficiency in HRR, such as mutations in BRCA1 and/or BRCA2. Inhibition of PARP with Lynparza leads to the trapping of PARP bound to DNA single-strand breaks, stalling of replication forks, their collapse and the generation of DNA double-strand breaks and cancer cell death. Lynparza is being tested in a range of PARP-dependent tumour types with defects and dependencies in the DDR pathway.
The concurrent approvals by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare are based on positive results from the PAOLA-1, PROfound and POLO Phase III trials, which each were published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
The AstraZeneca and MSD strategic oncology collaboration
In July 2017, AstraZeneca and Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, US, known as MSD outside the US and Canada, announced a global strategic oncology collaboration to co-develop and co-commercialise Lynparza, the world’s first PARP inhibitor, and Koselugo (selumetinib), a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) inhibitor, for multiple cancer types. Working together, the companies will develop Lynparza and Koselugo in combination with other potential new medicines and as monotherapies. Independently, the companies will develop Lynparza and Koselugo in combination with their respective PD-L1 and PD-1 medicines.
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AstraZeneca, Merck’s Lynparza OK'd in Japan for cancers
Dec. 28, 2020 7:16 AM ETAstraZeneca PLC (AZN)By: Mamta Mayani, SA News Editor
https://seekingalpha.com/news/3647466-astrazeneca-merck-s-lynparza-okd-in-japan-for-cancers
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IMBRUVICA® (ibrutinib)
FARXIGA® (dapagliflozin)
IMBRUVICA® (ibrutinib)
IMBRUVICA® (ibrutinib)
December 23, 2020
IMBRUVICA® (ibrutinib) U.S. Prescribing Information Updated to Include Long-Term Data for Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia (WM)
- Updates are based on more than five years of Phase 3 iNNOVATE final analysis data, which demonstrated IMBRUVICA plus rituximab significantly prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) versus rituximab alone in adults with WM
- IMBRUVICA is the first and only FDA-approved treatment for adults with WM and has been used to treat more than 200,000 patients worldwide across approved indications
NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., Dec. 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the update of the IMBRUVICA® (ibrutinib) Prescribing Information to include efficacy and safety data for the combination of IMBRUVICA with rituximab for the treatment of Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM), based on the final analysis of the Phase 3 iNNOVATE study. First approved in 2013, IMBRUVICA is currently available to patients with several types of blood cancer, as well as chronic graft-versus-host disease. It was approved as a mo
IMBRUVICA® (ibrutinib)
About IMBRUVICA
IMBRUVICA is a once-daily, first-in-class BTK inhibitor that is administered orally, and is jointly developed and commercialized by Pharmacyclics, LLC, an AbbVie Company, and Janssen Biotech, Inc. (Janssen). The BTK protein sends important signals that tell B cells to mature and produce antibodies. BTK signaling is needed by specific cancer cells to multiply and spread.3,4 By blocking BTK, IMBRUVICA may help move abnormal B cells out of their nourishing environments in the lymph nodes, bone marrow, and other organs.5
Since its launch in 2013, IMBRUVICA has received 11 FDA approvals across six disease areas: chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with or without 17p deletion (del17p); small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) with or without del17p; WM; previously-treated patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL)*; previously-treated patients with marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) who require systemic therapy and have received at least one prior anti-CD20-based therapy* – and previously-treated patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) after failure of one or more lines of systemic therapy.6
IMBRUVICA is now approved in 101 countries and has been used to treat more than 200,000 patients worldwide across its approved indications. IMBRUVICA is the only FDA-approved medicine in WM and cGVHD. IMBRUVICA has been granted four Breakthrough Therapy Designations from the U.S. FDA. This designation is intended to expedite the development and review of a potential new drug for serious or life-threatening diseases. IMBRUVICA was one of the first medicines to receive FDA approval via the Breakthrough Therapy Designation pathway.
As of early 2019, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®), a not-for-profit alliance of 28 leading cancer centers devoted to patient care, research, and education, recommends ibrutinib (IMBRUVICA) as a preferred regimen for the initial treatment of CLL/SLL and is a Category 1 treatment for treatment-naïve patients without deletion 17p. In January 2020, the NCCN Guidelines® were updated to recommend IMBRUVICA, with or without rituximab, as a preferred regimen for the treatment of relapsed/refractory MCL, regardless of response duration to prior chemoimmunotherapy. In September 2020, the NCCN guidelines for WM were updated and now recommends IMBRUVICA, with or without rituximab, as the only Category 1 Preferred regimen for patients with previously untreated or previously treated WM.
IMBRUVICA is being studied alone and in combination with other treatments in several blood and solid tumor cancers and other serious illnesses. IMBRUVICA is the most comprehensively studied BTK inhibitor, with more than 150 ongoing clinical trials. There are approximately 30 ongoing company-sponsored trials, 14 of which are in Phase 3, and more than 100 investigator-sponsored trials and external collaborations that are active around the world. For more information, visit www.IMBRUVICA.com.
*Accelerated approval was granted for the MCL and MZL indications based on overall response rate. Continued approval for MCL and MZL may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.
Please click here for full Prescribing Information.
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AbbVie's Imbruvica wins expanded prescribing information approval from FDA
Dec. 23, 2020 8:44 AM ET AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) By: Aakash Babu, SA News Editor8 Comments
biotecNOVA™ November & October 2020 insight
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Plus Chemotherapy
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Plus LENVIMA® (lenvatinib)
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Plus LENVIMA® (lenvatinib)
FDA Grants Priority Review to Merck’s Supplemental Biologics License Application for KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Plus Chemotherapy as First-Line Treatment for Locally Advanced Unresectable or Metastatic Esophageal and Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer
December 17, 2020 6:45 am EST
Application Based on Overall Survival and Progression-Free Survival Data Comparing KEYTRUDA Plus Chemotherapy to Chemotherapy Alone From Pivotal Phase 3 KEYNOTE-590 Trial
KENILWORTH, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted and granted priority review for a new supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for KEYTRUDA, Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, in combination with platinum and fluoropyrimidine based chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic carcinoma of the esophagus and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ). This sBLA is based on data from the pivotal Phase 3 KEYNOTE-590 trial, in which KEYTRUDA plus chemotherapy demonstrated significant improvements in the primary endpoints – overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) – versus chemotherapy in these patients regardless of PD-L1 expression status and tumor histology. These data were presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Virtual Congress 2020. The FDA has set a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA), or target action, date of April 13, 2021.
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Plus Chemotherapy
About KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Injection, 100 mg
KEYTRUDA is an anti-PD-1 therapy that works by increasing the ability of the body’s immune system to help detect and fight tumor cells. KEYTRUDA is a humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks the interaction between PD-1 and its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, thereby activating T lymphocytes which may affect both tumor cells and healthy cells.
Merck has the industry’s largest immuno-oncology clinical research program. There are currently more than 1,300 trials studying KEYTRUDA across a wide variety of cancers and treatment settings. The KEYTRUDA clinical program seeks to understand the role of KEYTRUDA across cancers and the factors that may predict a patient's likelihood of benefitting from treatment with KEYTRUDA, including exploring several different biomarkers.
Selected KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Indications in the U.S.
Melanoma
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma.
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of patients with melanoma with involvement of lymph node(s) following complete resection.
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
KEYTRUDA, in combination with pemetrexed and platinum chemotherapy, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations.
KEYTRUDA, in combination with carboplatin and either paclitaxel or paclitaxel protein-bound, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic squamous NSCLC.
KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with NSCLC expressing PD-L1 [tumor proportion score (TPS) ≥1%] as determined by an FDA-approved test, with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations, and is stage III where patients are not candidates for surgical resection or definitive chemoradiation, or metastatic.
KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic NSCLC whose tumors express PD-L1 (TPS ≥1%) as determined by an FDA-approved test, with disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy. Patients with EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations should have disease progression on FDA-approved therapy for these aberrations prior to receiving KEYTRUDA.
Small Cell Lung Cancer
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic small cell lung cancer (SCLC) with disease progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy and at least 1 other prior line of therapy. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.
Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer
KEYTRUDA, in combination with platinum and fluorouracil (FU), is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic or with unresectable, recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic or with unresectable, recurrent HNSCC whose tumors express PD-L1 [combined positive score (CPS) ≥1] as determined by an FDA-approved test.
KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic HNSCC with disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy.
Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL).
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of pediatric patients with refractory cHL, or cHL that has relapsed after 2 or more lines of therapy.
Primary Mediastinal Large B-Cell Lymphoma
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with refractory primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL), or who have relapsed after 2 or more prior lines of therapy. KEYTRUDA is not recommended for treatment of patients with PMBCL who require urgent cytoreductive therapy.
Urothelial Carcinoma
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) who are not eligible for cisplatin-containing chemotherapy and whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS ≥10), as determined by an FDA-approved test, or in patients who are not eligible for any platinum-containing chemotherapy regardless of PD-L1 status. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) who have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy or within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment with platinum-containing chemotherapy.
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG)-unresponsive, high-risk, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with carcinoma in situ (CIS) with or without papillary tumors who are ineligible for or have elected not to undergo cystectomy.
Microsatellite Instability-High or Mismatch Repair Deficient Cancer
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with unresectable or metastatic microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR)
- solid tumors that have progressed following prior treatment and who have no satisfactory alternative treatment options, or
- colorectal cancer that has progressed following treatment with fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan.
This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials. The safety and effectiveness of KEYTRUDA in pediatric patients with MSI-H central nervous system cancers have not been established.
Microsatellite Instability-High or Mismatch Repair Deficient Colorectal Cancer
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic MSI-H or dMMR colorectal cancer (CRC).
Gastric Cancer
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent locally advanced or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS ≥1) as determined by an FDA-approved test, with disease progression on or after two or more prior lines of therapy including fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy and if appropriate, HER2/neu-targeted therapy. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.
Esophageal Cancer
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent locally advanced or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS ≥10) as determined by an FDA-approved test, with disease progression after one or more prior lines of systemic therapy.
Cervical Cancer
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer with disease progression on or after chemotherapy whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS ≥1) as determined by an FDA-approved test. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.
Hepatocellular Carcinoma
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who have been previously treated with sorafenib. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.
Merkel Cell Carcinoma
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with recurrent locally advanced or metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.
Renal Cell Carcinoma
KEYTRUDA, in combination with axitinib, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
Tumor Mutational Burden-High
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with unresectable or metastatic tumor mutational burden-high (TMB-H) [≥10 mutations/megabase] solid tumors, as determined by an FDA-approved test, that have progressed following prior treatment and who have no satisfactory alternative treatment options. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials. The safety and effectiveness of KEYTRUDA in pediatric patients with TMB-H central nervous system cancers have not been established.
Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) that is not curable by surgery or radiation.
Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
KEYTRUDA, in combination with chemotherapy, is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally recurrent unresectable or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS ≥10) as determined by an FDA-approved test. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on progression-free survival. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.
Selected Important Safety Information for KEYTRUDA
Severe and Fatal Immune-Mediated Adverse Reactions
KEYTRUDA is a monoclonal antibody that belongs to a class of drugs that bind to either the programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) or the programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), blocking the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway, thereby removing inhibition of the immune response, potentially breaking peripheral tolerance and inducing immune-mediated adverse reactions. Immune-mediated adverse reactions, which may be severe or fatal, can occur in any organ system or tissue, can affect more than one body system simultaneously, and can occur at any time after starting treatment or after discontinuation of treatment.
Monitor patients closely for symptoms and signs that may be clinical manifestations of underlying immune-mediated adverse reactions. Early identification and management are essential to ensure safe use of anti–PD-1/PD-L1 treatments. Evaluate liver enzymes, creatinine, and thyroid function at baseline and periodically during treatment. In cases of suspected immune-mediated adverse reactions, initiate appropriate workup to exclude alternative etiologies, including infection. Institute medical management promptly, including specialty consultation as appropriate.
Withhold or permanently discontinue KEYTRUDA depending on severity of the immune-mediated adverse reaction. In general, if KEYTRUDA requires interruption or discontinuation, administer systemic corticosteroid therapy (1 to 2 mg/kg/day prednisone or equivalent) until improvement to Grade 1 or less. Upon improvement to Grade 1 or less, initiate corticosteroid taper and continue to taper over at least 1 month. Consider administration of other systemic immunosuppressants in patients whose adverse reactions are not controlled with corticosteroid therapy.
Immune-Mediated Pneumonitis
KEYTRUDA can cause immune-mediated pneumonitis. The incidence is higher in patients who have received prior thoracic radiation. Immune-mediated pneumonitis occurred in 3.4% (94/2799) of patients receiving KEYTRUDA, including fatal (0.1%), Grade 4 (0.3%), Grade 3 (0.9%), and Grade 2 (1.3%) reactions. Systemic corticosteroids were required in 67% (63/94) of patients. Pneumonitis led to permanent discontinuation of KEYTRUDA in 1.3% (36) and withholding in 0.9% (26) of patients. All patients who were withheld reinitiated KEYTRUDA after symptom improvement; of these, 23% had recurrence. Pneumonitis resolved in 59% of the 94 patients.
Pneumonitis occurred in 8% (31/389) of adult patients with cHL receiving KEYTRUDA as a single agent, including Grades 3-4 in 2.3% of patients. Patients received high-dose corticosteroids for a median duration of 10 days (range: 2 days to 53 months). Pneumonitis rates were similar in patients with and without prior thoracic radiation. Pneumonitis led to discontinuation of KEYTRUDA in 5.4% (21) of patients, 42% of these patients interrupted KEYTRUDA, 68% discontinued KEYTRUDA, and 77% had resolution.
Immune-Mediated Colitis
KEYTRUDA can cause immune-mediated colitis, which may present with diarrhea. Cytomegalovirus infection/reactivation has been reported in patients with corticosteroid-refractory immune-mediated colitis. In cases of corticosteroid-refractory colitis, consider repeating infectious workup to exclude alternative etiologies. Immune-mediated colitis occurred in 1.7% (48/2799) of patients receiving KEYTRUDA, including Grade 4 (<0.1%), Grade 3 (1.1%), and Grade 2 (0.4%) reactions. Systemic corticosteroids were required in 69% (33/48); additional immunosuppressant therapy was required in 4.2% of patients. Colitis led to permanent discontinuation of KEYTRUDA in 0.5% (15) and withholding in 0.5% (13) of patients. All patients who were withheld reinitiated KEYTRUDA after symptom improvement; of these, 23% had recurrence. Colitis resolved in 85% of the 48 patients.
Hepatotoxicity and Immune-Mediated Hepatitis
KEYTRUDA as a Single Agent
KEYTRUDA can cause immune-mediated hepatitis. Immune-mediated hepatitis occurred in 0.7% (19/2799) of patients receiving KEYTRUDA, including Grade 4 (<0.1%), Grade 3 (0.4%), and Grade 2 (0.1%) reactions. Systemic corticosteroids were required in 68% (13/19) of patients; additional immunosuppressant therapy was required in 11% of patients. Hepatitis led to permanent discontinuation of KEYTRUDA in 0.2% (6) and withholding in 0.3% (9) of patients. All patients who were withheld reinitiated KEYTRUDA after symptom improvement; of these, none had recurrence. Hepatitis resolved in 79% of the 19 patients.
KEYTRUDA with Axitinib
KEYTRUDA in combination with axitinib can cause hepatic toxicity. Monitor liver enzymes before initiation of and periodically throughout treatment. Consider monitoring more frequently as compared to when the drugs are administered as single agents. For elevated liver enzymes, interrupt KEYTRUDA and axitinib, and consider administering corticosteroids as needed. With the combination of KEYTRUDA and axitinib, Grades 3 and 4 increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (20%) and increased aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (13%) were seen, which was at a higher frequency compared to KEYTRUDA alone. Fifty-nine percent of the patients with increased ALT received systemic corticosteroids. In patients with ALT ≥3 times upper limit of normal (ULN) (Grades 2-4, n=116), ALT resolved to Grades 0-1 in 94%. Among the 92 patients who were rechallenged with either KEYTRUDA (n=3) or axitinib (n=34) administered as a single agent or with both (n=55), recurrence of ALT ≥3 times ULN was observed in 1 patient receiving KEYTRUDA, 16 patients receiving axitinib, and 24 patients receiving both. All patients with a recurrence of ALT ≥3 ULN subsequently recovered from the event.
A BREAKTHROUGH IMMUNOTHERAPY THAT MAY HELP YOU FACE YOUR CANCER
IT’S TRU. KEYTRUDA.
SELECT A TYPE OF CANCER
- Advanced non–small cell lung cancer
- Melanoma
- Head and neck squamous cell cancer
- High-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC)
- Advanced urothelial bladder cancer
- Advanced kidney cancer (RCC)
- Advanced MSI-H/dMMR colorectal cancer
- Microsatellite instability-high cancer (MSI-H/dMMR)
- Classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL)
- Advanced gastric cancer
- Advanced cervical cancer
- Primary mediastinal B‑cell lymphoma (PMBCL)
- Advanced liver cancer (HCC)
- Advanced Merkel cell carcinoma
- Advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
- Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC)
Please see Prescribing Information for KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) at http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/k/keytruda/keytruda_pi.pdf and Medication Guide for KEYTRUDA at http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/k/keytruda/keytruda_mg.pdf.
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For more information, visit www.merck.com
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KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Plus LENVIMA® (lenvatinib)
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Plus LENVIMA® (lenvatinib)
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Plus LENVIMA® (lenvatinib)
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Plus LENVIMA® (lenvatinib) Combination Demonstrated Statistically Significant Improvement in Overall Survival, Progression-Free Survival and Objective Response Rate Versus Chemotherapy in Patients With Advanced Endometrial Cancer Following Prior Systemic Therapy in Phase 3 Study
December 16, 2020 6:45 am ESTFirst Overall Survival Analysis for KEYTRUDA Plus LENVIMA Combination in a Phase 3 Study in Advanced Endometrial CancerKENILWORTH, N.J. & WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, and Eisai today announced that the pivotal Phase 3 KEYNOTE-775/Study 309 trial evaluating the investigational use of KEYTRUDA, Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, plus LENVIMA, the orally available multiple receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor discovered by Eisai, met its dual primary endpoints of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) and its secondary efficacy endpoint of objective response rate (ORR) in patients with advanced endometrial cancer following at least one prior platinum-based regimen.
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Injection, 100 mg About KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Injection, 100 mgKEYTRUDA is an anti-PD-1 therapy that works by increasing the ability of the body’s immune system to help detect and fight tumor cells. KEYTRUDA is a humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks the interaction between PD-1 and its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, thereby activating T lymphocytes which may affect both tumor cells and healthy cells.Merck has the industry’s largest immuno-oncology clinical research program. There are currently more than 1,300 trials studying KEYTRUDA across a wide variety of cancers and treatment settings. The KEYTRUDA clinical program seeks to understand the role of KEYTRUDA across cancers and the factors that may predict a patient's likelihood of benefitting from treatment with KEYTRUDA, including exploring several different biomarkers.Selected KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Indications in the U.S.MelanomaKEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma.KEYTRUDA is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of patients with melanoma with involvement of lymph node(s) following complete resection.Non-Small Cell Lung CancerKEYTRUDA, in combination with pemetrexed and platinum chemotherapy, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations.KEYTRUDA, in combination with carboplatin and either paclitaxel or paclitaxel protein-bound, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic squamous NSCLC.KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with NSCLC expressing PD-L1 [tumor proportion score (TPS) ≥1%] as determined by an FDA-approved test, with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations, and is stage III where patients are not candidates for surgical resection or definitive chemoradiation, or metastatic.KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic NSCLC whose tumors express PD-L1 (TPS ≥1%) as determined by an FDA-approved test, with disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy. Patients with EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations should have disease progression on FDA-approved therapy for these aberrations prior to receiving KEYTRUDA.Small Cell Lung CancerKEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic small cell lung cancer (SCLC) with disease progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy and at least 1 other prior line of therapy. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.Head and Neck Squamous Cell CancerKEYTRUDA, in combination with platinum and fluorouracil (FU), is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic or with unresectable, recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic or with unresectable, recurrent HNSCC whose tumors express PD-L1 [combined positive score (CPS) ≥1] as determined by an FDA-approved test.KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic HNSCC with disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy.Classical Hodgkin LymphomaKEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL).KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of pediatric patients with refractory cHL, or cHL that has relapsed after 2 or more lines of therapy.Primary Mediastinal Large B-Cell LymphomaKEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with refractory primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL), or who have relapsed after 2 or more prior lines of therapy. KEYTRUDA is not recommended for treatment of patients with PMBCL who require urgent cytoreductive therapy.Urothelial CarcinomaKEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) who are not eligible for cisplatin-containing chemotherapy and whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS ≥10), as determined by an FDA-approved test, or in patients who are not eligible for any platinum-containing chemotherapy regardless of PD-L1 status. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) who have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy or within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment with platinum-containing chemotherapy.KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG)-unresponsive, high-risk, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with carcinoma in situ (CIS) with or without papillary tumors who are ineligible for or have elected not to undergo cystectomy.Microsatellite Instability-High or Mismatch Repair Deficient CancerKEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with unresectable or metastatic microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR)
- solid tumors that have progressed following prior treatment and who have no satisfactory alternative treatment options, or
- colorectal cancer that has progressed following treatment with fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan.
This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials. The safety and effectiveness of KEYTRUDA in pediatric patients with MSI-H central nervous system cancers have not been established.Microsatellite Instability-High or Mismatch Repair Deficient Colorectal CancerKEYTRUDA is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic MSI-H or dMMR colorectal cancer (CRC).Gastric CancerKEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent locally advanced or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS ≥1) as determined by an FDA-approved test, with disease progression on or after two or more prior lines of therapy including fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy and if appropriate, HER2/neu-targeted therapy. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.Esophageal CancerKEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent locally advanced or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS ≥10) as determined by an FDA-approved test, with disease progression after one or more prior lines of systemic therapy.Cervical CancerKEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer with disease progression on or after chemotherapy whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS ≥1) as determined by an FDA-approved test. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.Hepatocellular CarcinomaKEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who have been previously treated with sorafenib. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.Merkel Cell CarcinomaKEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with recurrent locally advanced or metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.Renal Cell CarcinomaKEYTRUDA, in combination with axitinib, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).Endometrial CarcinomaKEYTRUDA, in combination with LENVIMA, is indicated for the treatment of patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma that is not MSI-H or dMMR, who have disease progression following prior systemic therapy and are not candidates for curative surgery or radiation. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trial.Tumor Mutational Burden-HighKEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with unresectable or metastatic tumor mutational burden-high (TMB-H) [≥10 mutations/megabase] solid tumors, as determined by an FDA-approved test, that have progressed following prior treatment and who have no satisfactory alternative treatment options. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials. The safety and effectiveness of KEYTRUDA in pediatric patients with TMB-H central nervous system cancers have not been established.Cutaneous Squamous Cell CarcinomaKEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) that is not curable by surgery or radiation.Triple-Negative Breast CancerKEYTRUDA, in combination with chemotherapy, is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally recurrent unresectable or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS ≥10) as determined by an FDA-approved test. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on progression-free survival. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.Selected Important Safety Information for KEYTRUDASevere and Fatal Immune-Mediated Adverse ReactionsKEYTRUDA is a monoclonal antibody that belongs to a class of drugs that bind to either the programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) or the programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), blocking the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway, thereby removing inhibition of the immune response, potentially breaking peripheral tolerance and inducing immune-mediated adverse reactions. Immune-mediated adverse reactions, which may be severe or fatal, can occur in any organ system or tissue, can affect more than one body system simultaneously, and can occur at any time after starting treatment or after discontinuation of treatment.Monitor patients closely for symptoms and signs that may be clinical manifestations of underlying immune-mediated adverse reactions. Early identification and management are essential to ensure safe use of anti–PD-1/PD-L1 treatments. Evaluate liver enzymes, creatinine, and thyroid function at baseline and periodically during treatment. In cases of suspected immune-mediated adverse reactions, initiate appropriate workup to exclude alternative etiologies, including infection. Institute medical management promptly, including specialty consultation as appropriate.Withhold or permanently discontinue KEYTRUDA depending on severity of the immune-mediated adverse reaction. In general, if KEYTRUDA requires interruption or discontinuation, administer systemic corticosteroid therapy (1 to 2 mg/kg/day prednisone or equivalent) until improvement to Grade 1 or less. Upon improvement to Grade 1 or less, initiate corticosteroid taper and continue to taper over at least 1 month. Consider administration of other systemic immunosuppressants in patients whose adverse reactions are not controlled with corticosteroid therapy.
Please see Prescribing Information for KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) at http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/k/keytruda/keytruda_pi.pdf and Medication Guide for KEYTRUDA at http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/k/keytruda/keytruda_mg.pdf. https://www.keytruda.com/
About LENVIMA® (lenvatinib) Capsules
LENVIMA® (lenvatinib) is a kinase inhibitor that is indicated:
- For the treatment of patients with locally recurrent or metastatic, progressive, radioactive iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (RAI-refractory DTC)
- In combination with everolimus, for the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) following one prior anti-angiogenic therapy
- For the first-line treatment of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
- In combination with KEYTRUDA, for the treatment of patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma that is not microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR), who have disease progression following prior systemic therapy, and are not candidates for curative surgery or radiation. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trial
LENVIMA (lenvatinib) is available as 10 mg and 4 mg capsules.
Please see Prescribing Information for LENVIMA (lenvatinib) at http://www.lenvima.com/pdfs/prescribing-information.pdf.
For more information, visit www.merck.com
For more information about Eisai, please visit www.eisai.com (for global), us.eisai.com (for U.S.) or www.eisai.eu (for Europe, Middle East, Africa)
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Merck/Eisai's Keytruda and Lenvima combo meet endpoints in late-stage uterine cancer study
Dec. 16, 2020 7:25 AM ETMerck & Co., Inc. (MRK)By: Vandana Singh, SA News Editor
- Merck (NYSE:MRK) and Eisai (OTCPK:ESALF) have announced data demonstrating positive top-line results from Phase 3 KEYNOTE-775/Study 309, evaluating Merck's Keytruda plus Eisai's Lenvima in patients with advanced endometrial cancer following at least one prior platinum-based regimen.
VENCLEXTA® (venetoclax)
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Plus LENVIMA® (lenvatinib)
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Injection, 100 mg
Health Canada Approves VENCLEXTA® (venetoclax) in combination with azacitidine or low dose cytarabine for untreated Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
Tue December 15, 2020 7:30 AM|Canada Newswire|About: ABBV
- Health Canada's approval of VENCLEXTA for newly diagnosed AML patients who are ineligible for intensive chemotherapy is supported by data from two Phase 3 trials - VIALE-A (M15-656) and VIALE-C (M16-043)1.
- The VIALE-A trial demonstrated a statistically significant increase in overall survival with VENCLEXTA in combination with azacitidine compared to azacitidine alone.1
- In the VIALE-C trial, clinical benefit was based on rate and duration of complete response.1
- AML is one of the most difficult-to-treat blood cancers with a very low survival rate.2,3
MONTREAL, Dec. 15, 2020 /CNW/ - AbbVie (ABBV), a research-based global biopharmaceutical company, announced today that Health Canada has approved VENCLEXTA® (venetoclax) in combination with azacitidine or low-dose cytarabine (LDAC) for the treatment of newly-diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in adults who are age 75 years or older, or who have comorbidities that preclude the use of intensive induction chemotherapy. AML is an aggressive and difficult-to-treat blood cancer with a low survival rate.2,3 In Canada, the five-year survival rate for patients diagnosed with AML is approximately 21%.3
VENCLEXTA® (venetoclax)
https://www.venclexta.com/
Uses
VENCLEXTA is a prescription medicine used:
- to treat adults with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL).
- in combination with azacitidine, or decitabine, or low-dose cytarabine to treat adults with newly-diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who:
- are 75 years of age or older, or
- have other medical conditions that prevent the use of standard chemotherapy.
VENCLEXTA was approved based on response rates. Continued approval for this use may depend on the results of an ongoing study to find out how VENCLEXTA works over a longer period of time.
It is not known if VENCLEXTA is safe and effective in children.
For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.ca and www.abbvie.com.
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KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Injection, 100 mg
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Injection, 100 mg
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Injection, 100 mg
Merck Receives Positive EU CHMP Opinion for KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) as First-Line Treatment in Adult Patients With Metastatic Microsatellite Instability-High (MSI-H) or Mismatch Repair Deficient (dMMR) Colorectal Cancer
December 11, 2020 7:10 am EST
Opinion Granted Based on Significant Progression-Free Survival Benefit Demonstrated With KEYTRUDA Monotherapy Compared to Standard-of-Care Chemotherapy in Pivotal Phase 3 KEYNOTE-177 Trial
KENILWORTH, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, announced today that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency has adopted a positive opinion recommending approval of KEYTRUDA, Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, as monotherapy for the first-line treatment of adult patients with metastatic microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) colorectal cancer. This recommendation is based on results from the pivotal Phase 3 KEYNOTE-177 trial, in which KEYTRUDA, as a monotherapy, demonstrated a significant improvement in progression-free survival compared to chemotherapy (investigator’s choice: mFOLFOX6 with or without bevacizumab or cetuximab; or FOLFIRI with or without bevacizumab or cetuximab), a current standard of care.
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Injection, 100 mg
About KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Injection, 100 mg
KEYTRUDA is an anti-PD-1 therapy that works by increasing the ability of the body’s immune system to help detect and fight tumor cells. KEYTRUDA is a humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks the interaction between PD-1 and its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, thereby activating T lymphocytes which may affect both tumor cells and healthy cells.
Merck has the industry’s largest immuno-oncology clinical research program. There are currently more than 1,300 trials studying KEYTRUDA across a wide variety of cancers and treatment settings. The KEYTRUDA clinical program seeks to understand the role of KEYTRUDA across cancers and the factors that may predict a patient's likelihood of benefitting from treatment with KEYTRUDA, including exploring several different biomarkers.
Selected KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Indications in the U.S.
Melanoma
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma.
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the adjuvant treatment of patients with melanoma with involvement of lymph node(s) following complete resection.
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
KEYTRUDA, in combination with pemetrexed and platinum chemotherapy, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations.
KEYTRUDA, in combination with carboplatin and either paclitaxel or paclitaxel protein-bound, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic squamous NSCLC.
KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with NSCLC expressing PD-L1 [tumor proportion score (TPS) ≥1%] as determined by an FDA-approved test, with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations, and is stage III where patients are not candidates for surgical resection or definitive chemoradiation, or metastatic.
KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic NSCLC whose tumors express PD-L1 (TPS ≥1%) as determined by an FDA-approved test, with disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy. Patients with EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations should have disease progression on FDA-approved therapy for these aberrations prior to receiving KEYTRUDA.
Small Cell Lung Cancer
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic small cell lung cancer (SCLC) with disease progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy and at least 1 other prior line of therapy. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.
Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer
KEYTRUDA, in combination with platinum and fluorouracil (FU), is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic or with unresectable, recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic or with unresectable, recurrent HNSCC whose tumors express PD-L1 [combined positive score (CPS) ≥1] as determined by an FDA-approved test.
KEYTRUDA, as a single agent, is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic HNSCC with disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy.
Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL).
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of pediatric patients with refractory cHL, or cHL that has relapsed after 2 or more lines of therapy.
Primary Mediastinal Large B-Cell Lymphoma
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with refractory primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL), or who have relapsed after 2 or more prior lines of therapy. KEYTRUDA is not recommended for treatment of patients with PMBCL who require urgent cytoreductive therapy.
Urothelial Carcinoma
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) who are not eligible for cisplatin-containing chemotherapy and whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS ≥10), as determined by an FDA-approved test, or in patients who are not eligible for any platinum-containing chemotherapy regardless of PD-L1 status. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) who have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy or within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment with platinum-containing chemotherapy.
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG)-unresponsive, high-risk, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with carcinoma in situ (CIS) with or without papillary tumors who are ineligible for or have elected not to undergo cystectomy.
Microsatellite Instability-High or Mismatch Repair Deficient Cancer
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with unresectable or metastatic microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR)
- solid tumors that have progressed following prior treatment and who have no satisfactory alternative treatment options, or
- colorectal cancer that has progressed following treatment with fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan.
This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials. The safety and effectiveness of KEYTRUDA in pediatric patients with MSI-H central nervous system cancers have not been established.
Microsatellite Instability-High or Mismatch Repair Deficient Colorectal Cancer
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic MSI-H or dMMR colorectal cancer (CRC).
Gastric Cancer
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent locally advanced or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS ≥1) as determined by an FDA-approved test, with disease progression on or after two or more prior lines of therapy including fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy and if appropriate, HER2/neu-targeted therapy. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.
Esophageal Cancer
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent locally advanced or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS ≥10) as determined by an FDA-approved test, with disease progression after one or more prior lines of systemic therapy.
Cervical Cancer
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer with disease progression on or after chemotherapy whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS ≥1) as determined by an FDA-approved test. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.
Hepatocellular Carcinoma
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who have been previously treated with sorafenib. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.
Merkel Cell Carcinoma
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with recurrent locally advanced or metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.
Renal Cell Carcinoma
KEYTRUDA, in combination with axitinib, is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
Tumor Mutational Burden-High
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with unresectable or metastatic tumor mutational burden-high (TMB-H) [≥10 mutations/megabase] solid tumors, as determined by an FDA-approved test, that have progressed following prior treatment and who have no satisfactory alternative treatment options. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials. The safety and effectiveness of KEYTRUDA in pediatric patients with TMB-H central nervous system cancers have not been established.
Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma
KEYTRUDA is indicated for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) that is not curable by surgery or radiation.
Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
KEYTRUDA, in combination with chemotherapy, is indicated for the treatment of patients with locally recurrent unresectable or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS ≥10) as determined by an FDA-approved test. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on progression-free survival. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.
A BREAKTHROUGH IMMUNOTHERAPY THAT MAY HELP YOU FACE YOUR CANCER
IT’S TRU. KEYTRUDA.
SELECT A TYPE OF CANCER
- Advanced non–small cell lung cancer
- Melanoma
- Head and neck squamous cell cancer
- High-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC)
- Advanced urothelial bladder cancer
- Advanced kidney cancer (RCC)
- Advanced MSI-H/dMMR colorectal cancer
- Microsatellite instability-high cancer (MSI-H/dMMR)
- Classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL)
- Advanced gastric cancer
- Advanced cervical cancer
- Primary mediastinal B‑cell lymphoma (PMBCL)
- Advanced liver cancer (HCC)
- Advanced Merkel cell carcinoma
- Advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
- Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC)
Please see Prescribing Information for KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) at http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/k/keytruda/keytruda_pi.pdf and Medication Guide for KEYTRUDA at http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/k/keytruda/keytruda_mg.pdf.
For more information, visit www.merck.com
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IMBRUVICA® (ibrutinib)
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Injection, 100 mg
Calquence (acalabrutinib)
IMBRUVICA® (ibrutinib)
December 6, 2020
Combined Data from Multiple Phase 3 Studies of IMBRUVICA® (ibrutinib) Show Efficacy and Safety in High-Risk, Previously Untreated Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) and Real-World Data Indicating Low Biomarker Testing Rates for These Patients
NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., Dec. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV), today announced results from a long-term integrated analysis of two Phase 3 clinical studies and additional pooled analysis evaluating the effect of IMBRUVICA (ibrutinib) based therapies for the first-line treatment of high-risk patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The totality of data featured at the virtual 2020 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting continues to establish the treatment benefit of IMBRUVICA for CLL patients with or without high-risk disease.
IMBRUVICA® (ibrutinib)
About IMBRUVICA
IMBRUVICA (ibrutinib) is an oral, once-daily medicine that works differently than chemotherapy as it blocks a protein called Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK). The BTK protein sends important signals that tell B cells to mature and produce antibodies. BTK signaling is needed by specific cancer cells to multiply and spread.6,7 By blocking BTK, IMBRUVICA may help move abnormal B cells out of their nourishing environments in the lymph nodes, bone marrow, and other organs.8
Since its launch in 2013, IMBRUVICA has received 11 FDA approvals across six disease areas: chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with or without 17p deletion (del17p); small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) with or without del17p; Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM); previously-treated patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL)*; previously-treated patients with marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) who require systemic therapy and have received at least one prior anti-CD20-based therapy* – and previously-treated patients with chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) after failure of one or more lines of systemic therapy.9
IMBRUVICA is now approved in more than 100 countries and has been used to treat more than 200,000 patients worldwide across its approved indications. IMBRUVICA is the only FDA-approved medicine in WM and cGVHD. IMBRUVICA has been granted four Breakthrough Therapy Designations from the U.S. FDA. This designation is intended to expedite the development and review of a potential new drug for serious or life-threatening diseases. IMBRUVICA was one of the first medicines to receive FDA approval via the Breakthrough Therapy Designation pathway
USES
What is IMBRUVICA® (ibrutinib)?
IMBRUVICA® (ibrutinib) is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with:
- Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) who have received at least one prior treatment
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/Small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL)
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/Small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) with 17p deletion
- Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia (WM)
- Marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) who require a medicine by mouth or injection (systemic therapy) and have received a certain type of prior treatment
- Chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD) after failure of 1 or more lines of systemic therapy
It is not known if IMBRUVICA® is safe and effective in children.
Combined Data from Multiple Phase 3 Studies of IMBRUVICA® (ibrutinib) Show Efficacy and Safety in High-Risk, Previously Untreated Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) and Real-World Data Indicating Low Biomarker Testing Rates for These Patients
Sun December 6, 2020 1:00 PM|PR Newswire|About: ABBV
NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., Dec. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie (ABBV),
Please click here for full Prescribing Information.
For more information, please visit http://www.abbvie.com/oncology
For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com.
https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ABBV
SOURCE AbbVie
Calquence (acalabrutinib)
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Injection, 100 mg
Calquence (acalabrutinib)
For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.ca and www.abbvie.com.
Calquence (acalabrutinib)
Calquence data across four trials reinforces cardiovascular safety profile in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
PUBLISHED7 December 2020
7 December 2020 15:00 GMT
Less than 1% of patients treated with Calquence discontinued treatment due to cardiac adverse events in pooled analysis
A pooled analysis of cardiovascular (CV) safety data from 762 patients treated with Calquence (acalabrutinib) monotherapy for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), the most common type of adult leukaemia, across four clinical trials showed a low incidence of cardiac adverse events (AEs) leading to discontinuation.1,2 These results were presented at the 62nd American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition on 7 December 2020.
Calquence (acalabrutinib)
PUBLISHED7 December 2020
7 December 2020 15:00 GMT
Less than 1% of patients treated with Calquence discontinued treatment due to cardiac adverse events in pooled analysis
A pooled analysis of cardiovascular (CV) safety data from 762 patients treated with Calquence (acalabrutinib) monotherapy for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), the most common type of adult leukaemia, across four clinical trials showed a low incidence of cardiac adverse events (AEs) leading to discontinuation.1,2 These results were presented at the 62nd American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition on 7 December 2020.
The analysis included patients with previously untreated and relapsed or refractory CLL treated with Calquence alone from the ELEVATE TN and ASCEND Phase III trials, as well as the 15-H-0016 Phase II trial and ACE-CL-001 Phase I/II trial. In the analysis, 129 patients (17%) reported a cardiac AE of any grade at a median follow up of 25.9 months, and seven patients (0.9%) discontinued treatment due to cardiac AEs.1
Jennifer Brown, MD, PhD, Director of the CLL Center of the Division of Hematologic Malignancies, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and principal investigator, said: “Cardiac adverse events have emerged as an important consideration for treating chronic lymphocytic leukaemia patients with Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitors, as cardiovascular complications have become a frequent reason for discontinuation. The data presented in this study suggests a low risk of cardiac adverse events with acalabrutinib that is similar to those in a general population of untreated patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, giving clinicians further reassurance when prescribing this therapy.”
José Baselga, Executive Vice President, Oncology R&D, said: “These combined results across four of our clinical trials reinforce the cardiovascular safety profile of Calquence for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. With Calquence, we aim to selectively target Bruton’s tyrosine kinase to help improve safety and long-term adherence while maintaining outstanding efficacy.”
Median exposure to Calquence was 24.9 months. Cardiac events that occurred in 2% or more of patients included atrial fibrillation (4%), atrial fibrillation/flutter (5%), palpitations (3%) and tachycardia (2%). The incidence of atrial fibrillation was similar to that in a general, previously untreated CLL patient population (6%).1,3
Grade 3 or higher cardiac AEs occurred in 37 patients (4%) treated with Calquence monotherapy, of which 25% were reported during the first six months of treatment. Grade 3 or higher cardiac AEs of interest included atrial fibrillation (1.3%), complete atrioventricular (AV) block (0.3%), acute coronary syndrome (0.1%), atrial flutter (0.1%), second degree AV block (0.1%) and ventricular fibrillation (0.1%). Two patients experienced Grade 5 AEs (one with congestive heart failure and one with heart attack).1
Overall, 91% of patients with cardiac AEs versus 79% patients without cardiac AEs had one or more CV risk factors before receiving Calquence. The most prevalent CV risk factors (greater than or equal to 20% of patients) among those who experienced cardiac AEs were hypertension (67%), hyperlipidemia (29%) and arrhythmias (22%).1
AstraZeneca is exploring additional trials in CLL, including the ELEVATE-RR Phase III trial (ACE-CL-006) evaluating Calquence versus ibrutinib in patients with previously treated high-risk CLL. Data is anticipated in 2021.
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is the most common type of leukaemia in adults, with an estimated 105,000 new cases globally in 2016, and the number of people living with CLL is expected to grow with improved treatment as patients live longer with the disease.2,4,5,6 In CLL, too many blood stem cells in the bone marrow become abnormal lymphocytes and these abnormal cells have difficulty fighting infections. As the number of abnormal cells grows, there is less room for healthy white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. This could result in anaemia, infection, and bleeding.4 B-cell receptor signalling through Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) is one of the essential growth pathways for CLL.
Calquence
Calquence (acalabrutinib) is a next-generation, selective inhibitor of BTK. Calquence binds covalently to BTK, thereby inhibiting its activity.7,8 In B-cells, BTK signalling results in activation of pathways necessary for B-cell proliferation, trafficking, chemotaxis, and adhesion.7
Calquence is approved for the treatment of CLL and small lymphocytic lymphoma in the US and is approved for CLL in the EU and several other countries worldwide. Calquence is also approved for the treatment of adult patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) who have received at least one prior therapy in the US and several other countries.
As part of an extensive clinical development programme, AstraZeneca and Acerta Pharma are currently evaluating Calquence in more than 20 company-sponsored clinical trials. Calquence is being developed for the treatment of multiple B-cell blood cancers including CLL, MCL, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, Waldenström’s macroglobulinaemia, follicular lymphoma, and other haematologic malignancies.
What is CALQUENCE?
CALQUENCE is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) who have received at least one prior treatment for their cancer, or adults with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL).
It is not known if CALQUENCE is safe and effective in children.
Please see full Prescribing Information, including Patient Information.
CALQUENCE Shows Long-Term Efficacy and Tolerability at Three Years for Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Mantle Cell Lymphoma
Sun December 6, 2020 10:00 AM|Business Wire|About: AZN
ACE-LY-004 Phase II trial results substantiate established efficacy and safety profile of CALQUENCE in mantle cell lymphoma
(WILMINGTON, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)
For more information, please visit astrazeneca-us.com
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VENCLEXTA®/VENCLYXTO® (venetoclax)
VENCLEXTA®/VENCLYXTO® (venetoclax)
VENCLEXTA®/VENCLYXTO® (venetoclax)
December 5, 2020
AbbVie Presents Extended Follow-Up Data for Fixed Duration Treatment VENCLEXTA®/VENCLYXTO® (venetoclax) in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
- New five-year, follow-up analysis from the Phase 3 MURANO trial shows median progression-free survival (PFS) of 53.6 months in previously treated CLL patients taking VENCLEXTA/VENCLYXTO in combination with rituximab compared to 17.0 months in patients taking bendamustine plus rituximab (BR) after three years or more off treatment[1]
- Two analyses of the Phase 3 CLL14 study evaluated minimal residual disease (MRD) measurements for previously untreated CLL patients taking VENCLEXTA/VENCLYXTO in combination with obinutuzumab[2],[3]
- Four-year follow-up analysis from the CLL14 study shows an overall survival (OS) rate of 85.3% with the VENCLEXTA/VENCLYXTO and obinutuzumab combination versus 83.1% with chlorambucil and obinutuzumab combination[3]
NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., Dec. 5, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) today announced new, updated results from the Phase 3 MURANO and CLL14 clinical trials evaluating VENCLEXTA®/VENCLYXTO® (venetoclax) fixed duration treatment combinations at the virtual 62nd American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting & Exposition (abstracts 125, 127, and 1310, respectively). These findings add to the growing body of data supporting the use of VENCLEXTA/VENCLYXTO in first-line or previously treated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients.
VENCLEXTA®/VENCLYXTO® (venetoclax)
About VENCLEXTA®/VENCLYXTO® (venetoclax)
VENCLEXTA®/VENCLYXTO® (venetoclax) is a first-in-class medicine that selectively binds and inhibits the B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) protein. In some blood cancers, BCL-2 prevents cancer cells from undergoing their natural death or self-destruction process, called apoptosis. VENCLEXTA/VENCLYXTO targets the BCL-2 protein and works to help restore the process of apoptosis.
VENCLEXTA/VENCLYXTO is being developed by AbbVie and Roche. It is jointly commercialized by AbbVie and Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, in the U.S. and by AbbVie outside of the U.S. Together, the companies are committed to BCL-2 research and to studying venetoclax in clinical trials across several blood and other cancers. VENCLEXTA/VENCLYXTO is approved in more than 50 countries, including the U.S.
Uses
VENCLEXTA is a prescription medicine used:
- to treat adults with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL).
- in combination with azacitidine, or decitabine, or low-dose cytarabine to treat adults with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who:
- are 75 years of age or older, or
- have other medical conditions that prevent the use of standard chemotherapy.
It is not known if VENCLEXTA is safe and effective in children.
See VENCLYXTO full summary of product characteristics (SmPC) at https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/venclyxto-epar-product-information_en.pdf.
For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com.
https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ABBV
Dupixent® (dupilumab)
VENCLEXTA®/VENCLYXTO® (venetoclax)
VENCLEXTA®/VENCLYXTO® (venetoclax)
Dupixent® (dupilumab)
November 30, 2020 at 12:59 AM EST Back
DUPIXENT® (DUPILUMAB) APPROVED BY EUROPEAN COMMISSION AS FIRST AND ONLY BIOLOGIC MEDICINE FOR CHILDREN AGED 6 TO 11 YEARS WITH SEVERE ATOPIC DERMATITIS
TARRYTOWN, N.Y. and PARIS, Nov. 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --
Pivotal trial showed more than four times as many children achieved itch reduction and more than three times as many children achieved clear or almost clear skin with Dupixent plus topical corticosteroids (TCS) compared to TCS alone
Nearly three in four children achieved a 75% improvement in disease extent and severity, with an average improvement of approximately 80%
Approximately 80% of children experienced clinically meaningful improvements in a composite of health-related quality of life measures that include sleep, school, emotional well-being and relationships
Expanded approval of Dupixent for these children reinforces well-established, long-term safety profile
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) and Sanofi
Dupixent® (dupilumab) approved by European Commission as first and only biologic medicine for children aged 6 to 11 years with severe atopic dermatitis
Mon November 30, 2020 1:00 AM|GlobeNewswire|About: SNY
Dupixent® (dupilumab) approved by European Commission as first and only biologic medicine for children aged 6 to 11 years with severe atopic dermatitis
- Pivotal trial showed more than four times as many children achieved itch reduction and more than three times as many children achieved clear or almost clear skin with Dupixent plus topical corticosteroids (TCS) compared to TCS alone
- Nearly three in four children achieved a 75% improvement in disease extent and severity, with an average improvement of approximately 80%
- Approximately 80% of children experienced clinically meaningful improvements in a composite of health-related quality of life measures that include sleep, school, emotional well-being and relationships
- Expanded approval of Dupixent for these children reinforces well-established, long-term safety profile
PARIS and TARRYTOWN, N.Y. – November 30, 2020 – The European Commission (EC)
Dupixent® (dupilumab)
Indications
DUPIXENT is a prescription medicine used:
- to treat people aged 6 years and older with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (eczema) that is not well controlled with prescription therapies used on the skin (topical), or who cannot use topical therapies. DUPIXENT can be used with or without topical corticosteroids. It is not known if DUPIXENT is safe and effective in children with atopic dermatitis under 6 years of age.
- with other asthma medicines for the maintenance treatment of moderate-to-severe eosinophilic or oral steroid dependent asthma in people aged 12 years and older whose asthma is not controlled with their current asthma medicines. DUPIXENT helps prevent severe asthma attacks (exacerbations) and can improve your breathing. DUPIXENT may also help reduce the amount of oral corticosteroids you need while preventing severe asthma attacks and improving your breathing. DUPIXENT is not used to treat sudden breathing problems. It is not known if DUPIXENT is safe and effective in children with asthma under 12 years of age.
- with other medicines for the maintenance treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) in adults whose disease is not controlled. It is not known if DUPIXENT is safe and effective in children with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis under 18 years of age.
https://www.dupixent.com/
For additional information about the company, please visit www.regeneron.com
https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/REGN
https://www.sanofi.com/
https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/SNY
Forxiga (dapagliflozin)
VENCLEXTA®/VENCLYXTO® (venetoclax)
Jardiance® (empagliflozin)
Forxiga approved in Japan for chronic heart failure
PUBLISHED30 November 2020
30 November 2020 07:00 GMT
Forxiga is the first SGLT2 inhibitor approved in Japan for chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction in adult patients with and without type-2 diabetes
AstraZeneca’s Forxiga (dapagliflozin) has been approved in Japan for the treatment of patients with chronic heart failure (HF) who are receiving standard of care.
Forxiga (known as Farxiga in the US) is approved in the US, Europe, and several other countries around the world for the treatment of patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).
AstraZeneca's Forxiga OK'd in Japan for heart failure
Nov. 30, 2020 6:44 AM ETAstraZeneca PLC (AZN)By: Douglas W. House, SA News Editor
https://seekingalpha.com/news/3639857-astrazenecas-forxiga-okd-in-japan-for-heart-failure
Forxiga (dapagliflozin)
What is FARXIGA?
FARXIGA is a prescription medicine used to:
improve blood sugar control along with diet and exercise in adults with type 2 diabetes
reduce the risk of hospitalization for heart failure in adults with type 2 diabetes and known cardiovascular disease or multiple cardiovascular risk factors
reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure in adults with heart failure (when the heart is weak and cannot pump enough blood to the rest of your body)
FARXIGA should not be used to treat people with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis (increased ketones in your blood or urine).
Forxiga
Forxiga (dapagliflozin) is a first-in-class, oral, once-daily SGLT2 inhibitor indicated in adults for the treatment of insufficiently controlled T2D as both monotherapy and as part of combination therapy as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycaemic control, with the additional benefits of weight loss and blood-pressure reduction.
Forxiga has been evaluated in patients with CKD in the Phase III DAPA-CKD trial, with the full results announced in August 2020 demonstrating that Forxiga met all primary and secondary endpoints, providing overwhelming efficacy. Forxiga is currently being tested for patients with HF in the DELIVER (HF with preserved ejection fraction, HFpEF) and DETERMINE (HFrEF and HFpEF) Phase III trials. Forxiga will also be tested in patients without T2D following an acute myocardial infarction (MI) or heart attack in the DAPA-MI trial - a first of its kind, indication-seeking registry-based randomised controlled trial. Forxiga has a robust programme of clinical trials that includes more than 35 completed and ongoing Phase IIb/III trials in more than 35,000 patients, as well as more than 2.5 million patient-years’ experience.
The approval by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) was based on positive results from the landmark DAPA-HF Phase III trial published in The New England Journal of Medicine.7
Please visit astrazeneca.com
https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/AZN
Jardiance® (empagliflozin)
Jardiance® (empagliflozin)
Jardiance® (empagliflozin)
Jardiance® reduced the risk of first plus recurrent cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease in new analysis from the EMPA-REG OUTCOME® trial
Wed November 18, 2020 8:00 AM|PR Newswire|About: LLY
- Recurrent cardiovascular events in people with type 2 diabetes are responsible for considerable clinical and socioeconomic burdens; evaluation of first and recurrent events allows estimation of the total burden of cardiovascular events
PR Newswire
RIDGEFIELD, Conn. and INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Jardiance® (empagliflozin)
Jardiance® (empagliflozin)
What is JARDIANCE? (www.jardiance.com)
JARDIANCE is a prescription medicine used along with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.
JARDIANCE is also used to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death in adults with type 2 diabetes who have known cardiovascular disease.
JARDIANCE is not for people with type 1 diabetes or for people with diabetic ketoacidosis (increased ketones in the blood or urine).
For more information, please see Prescribing Information and Medication Guide.
For more information, please visit www.boehringer-ingelheim.us
For the latest updates, visit http://www.lillydiabetes.com/
Lilly, please visit us at lilly.com
View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jardiance-reduced-the-risk-of-first-plus-recurrent-cardiovascular-events-in-adults-with-type-2-diabetes-and-established-cardiovascular-disease-in-new-analysis-from-the-empa-reg-outcome-trial-301175351.html
November 18, 2020
Tags | Product
Lilly's Jardiance reduced risk of cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes
Nov. 18, 2020 8:46 AM ET Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) By: Mamta Mayani, SA News Editor2
https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/LLY
OPDIVO® (nivolumab)
Jardiance® (empagliflozin)
Imfinzi (durvalumab)
Bristol Myers Squibb Receives European Commission Approval for Opdivo (nivolumab) as Second-Line Treatment for Unresectable Advanced, Recurrent or Metastatic Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Tue November 24, 2020 6:59 AM|Business Wire|About: BMY
First immunotherapy to be approved for a gastroesophageal cancer in the European Union
Approval based on Phase 3 ATTRACTION-3 trial showing statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in overall survival compared to chemotherapy
PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY)
ATTRACTION-3 (ONO-4538-24/CA209-473; NCT02569242) is a Phase 3, multi-center, randomized, open-label global study, evaluating Opdivo versus chemotherapy (docetaxel or paclitaxel) for patients with esophageal cancer refractory or intolerant to first-line combination therapy with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-based drugs.
OPDIVO® (nivolumab)
OPDIVO® Immunotherapy: Giving People a Choice and a Chance Against Their Cancer
ADVANCED LUNG CANCER
NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER
- OPDIVO + YERVOY for certain adults with newly diagnosed advanced non-small cell lung cancer that tests positive for PD-L1
- OPDIVO + YERVOY, in combination with chemotherapy, for adults with newly diagnosed advanced non-small cell lung cancer
- OPDIVO for people who have had prior treatments for non-small cell lung cancer
SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER
Choose your condition:
- Advanced Lung Cancer
- Advanced Kidney Cancer
- Advanced Liver Cancer
- Colorectal Cancer (MSI-H/dMMR)
- Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Cancer
- Melanoma
- Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer
- Advanced Bladder Cancer
- Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma
For more information about Bristol Myers Squibb, visit us at BMS.com
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201124005397/en/
11/24/2020
Bristol Myers wins EU approval of Opdivo for esophageal cancer
Nov. 24, 2020 11:22 AM ETBristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMY)By: Carl Surran, SA News Editor
https://seekingalpha.com/news/3639128-bristol-myers-wins-eu-approval-of-opdivo-for-esophageal-cancer
https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/BMY
Imfinzi (durvalumab)
Jardiance® (empagliflozin)
Imfinzi (durvalumab)
Imfinzi approved in the US for less-frequent, fixed-dose use
PUBLISHED 20 November 2020
20 November 2020 07:00 GMT
Four-week dosing now approved in all Imfinzi indications, reducing medical visits and improving patient convenience
AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi (durvalumab)
AstraZeneca’s additional Imfinzi fixed-dose OK'd in U.S.
Nov. 20, 2020 3:22 AM ET AstraZeneca PLC (AZN)By: Mamta Mayani, SA News Editor
https://seekingalpha.com/news/3638225-astrazeneca-s-additional-imfinzi-fixed-dose-okd-in-u-s
Imfinzi (durvalumab)
What is IMFINZI?
IMFINZI® (durvalumab) is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with a type of cancer in the bladder and urinary tract called urothelial carcinoma. IMFINZI may be used when your urothelial carcinoma has spread or cannot be removed by surgery, and chemotherapy containing platinum did not work or is no longer working. IMFINZI was FDA approved for this use based on a clinical study that measured how many patients responded and how long they responded. The study is ongoing to confirm clinical benefit.
IMFINZI is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with a type of lung cancer called non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). IMFINZI may be used when your NSCLC has not spread outside your chest, cannot be removed by surgery, and has responded or stabilized with initial treatment with chemotherapy that contains platinum, given at the same time as radiation therapy.
IMFINZI is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with a type of lung cancer called small cell lung cancer (SCLC). IMFINZI may be used with the chemotherapy medicines etoposide and carboplatin or cisplatin as your first treatment when your SCLC has spread within your lungs or to other parts of the body (extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, or ES-SCLC).
It is not known if IMFINZI is safe and effective in children.
Please visit astrazeneca.com
https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/AZN
biotecMAX™ November & October 2020 insight
INO-5401 + INO-9012 in Novel Combination with PD-1 Inhibitor Libtayo® (cemiplimab)
INO-5401 + INO-9012 in Novel Combination with PD-1 Inhibitor Libtayo® (cemiplimab)
INO-5401 + INO-9012 in Novel Combination with PD-1 Inhibitor Libtayo® (cemiplimab)
INOVIO Presents Clinical Results of its DNA Medicines INO-5401 + INO-9012 in Novel Combination with PD-1 Inhibitor Libtayo® (cemiplimab) in the Treatment of Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma Multiforme at Society for Neuro-Oncology 2020 Annual Meeting
Fri November 20, 2020 8:00 AM|PR Newswire| About: INO PR Newswire
PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa., Nov. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- INOVIO (NASDAQ: INO)
INO-5401 + INO-9012 in Novel Combination with PD-1 Inhibitor Libtayo® (cemiplimab)
About INO-5401 and INO-9012
INO-5401 encodes for INOVIO's SynCon® antigens for hTERT, WT1, and PSMA, and has the potential to be a powerful cancer immunotherapy in combination with checkpoint inhibitors. The National Cancer Institute previously highlighted hTERT, WT1, and PSMA among a list of important cancer antigens, designating them as high priorities for cancer immunotherapy development. These three antigens were reported to be over-expressed, and often mutated, in a variety of human cancers, and targeting these antigens may prove efficacious in the treatment of patients with cancer. INO-9012 encodes for IL-12, which is a T cell immune activator.
For more information, visit www.inovio.com.
View original content:
https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/INO
DNA MEDICINES PIPELINE
INOVIO is leveraging its optimized plasmid design and delivery technology to develop DNA medicines to potentially treat and prevent diseases associated with human papillomavirus (HPV), cancer, and infectious diseases.
https://www.inovio.com/dna-medicines-pipeline/
What is LIBTAYO?
LIBTAYO is a prescription medicine used to treat people with a type of skin cancer called cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) that has spread or cannot be cured by surgery or radiation.
https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/REGN
https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/SNY
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) in Combination With Chemotherapy
INO-5401 + INO-9012 in Novel Combination with PD-1 Inhibitor Libtayo® (cemiplimab)
INO-5401 + INO-9012 in Novel Combination with PD-1 Inhibitor Libtayo® (cemiplimab)
FDA Approves Merck’s KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) in Combination With Chemotherapy for Patients With Locally Recurrent Unresectable or Metastatic Triple‑Negative Breast Cancer Whose Tumors Express PD-L1 (CPS ≥10)
November 13, 2020 4:10 pm EST
First Approval for KEYTRUDA in the Breast Cancer Setting
KENILWORTH, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Merck (NYSE: MRK),
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) in Combination With Chemotherapy
FDA Approves Merck’s KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) in Combination With Chemotherapy for Patients With Locally Recurrent Unresectable or Metastatic Triple‑Negative Breast Cancer Whose Tumors Express PD-L1 (CPS ≥10)
Fri November 13, 2020 4:10 PM|Business Wire|About: MRK
First Approval for KEYTRUDA in the Breast Cancer Setting
KENILWORTH, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Merck (MRK)
A BREAKTHROUGH IMMUNOTHERAPY THAT MAY HELP YOU FACE YOUR CANCER
IT’S TRU. KEYTRUDA.
SELECT A TYPE OF CANCER
- Advanced non–small cell lung cancer
- Melanoma
- Head and neck squamous cell cancer
- High-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC)
- Advanced urothelial bladder cancer
- Advanced kidney cancer (RCC)
- Advanced MSI-H/dMMR colorectal cancer
- Microsatellite instability-high cancer (MSI-H/dMMR)
- Classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL)
- Advanced gastric cancer
- Advanced cervical cancer
- Primary mediastinal B‑cell lymphoma (PMBCL)
- Advanced liver cancer (HCC)
- Advanced Merkel cell carcinoma
- Advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
- Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC)
The accelerated approval was based on data from KEYNOTE-355 (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02819518), a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted in 847 patients with locally recurrent unresectable or metastatic TNBC, regardless of tumor PD-L1 expression, who had not been previously treated with chemotherapy in the metastatic setting. Patients were randomized (2:1) to receive either KEYTRUDA (200 mg on Day 1 every three weeks) or placebo (on Day 1 every three weeks) in combination with the following chemotherapy; all medications were administered via intravenous infusion:
More information is available by calling 855-257-3932 or visiting www.merckaccessprogram-keytruda.com.
For further information and to sign up, eligible patients may call 85-KEYTRUDA (855-398-7832) or visit www.keytruda.com.
For more information, visit www.merck.com
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201113005691/en/
https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/MRK
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Plus LENVIMA® (lenvatinib)
INO-5401 + INO-9012 in Novel Combination with PD-1 Inhibitor Libtayo® (cemiplimab)
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Plus LENVIMA® (lenvatinib)
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Plus LENVIMA® (lenvatinib) Demonstrated Statistically Significant Improvement in Progression-Free Survival (PFS), Overall Survival (OS) and Objective Response Rate (ORR) Versus Sunitinib as First-Line Treatment for Patients…
Tue November 10, 2020 6:45 AM|Business Wire|About: MRK
LENVIMA Plus Everolimus Also Showed Statistically Significant Improvement in PFS and ORR Endpoints Versus Sunitinib
Results of Investigational Phase 3 KEYNOTE-581/CLEAR Trial (Study 307) to be Presented at Upcoming Medical Meeting
KENILWORTH, N.J., & WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Merck (MRK):
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Plus LENVIMA® (lenvatinib) Demonstrated Statistically Significant Improvement in Progression-Free Survival (PFS), Overall Survival (OS) and Objective Response Rate (ORR) Versus Sunitinib as First-Line Treatment for Patients With Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma
About KEYNOTE-581/CLEAR (Study 307)
KEYNOTE-581/CLEAR (Study 307) is a multi-center, randomized, open-label, Phase 3 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02811861) evaluating LENVIMA in combination with KEYTRUDA or in combination with everolimus versus sunitinib for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced RCC.
Please see Prescribing Information for LENVIMA (lenvatinib) at http://www.lenvima.com/pdfs/prescribing-information.pdf.
For more information, visit www.merck.com
For more information about Eisai, please visit www.eisai.com
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201110005450/en/
For more information about Eisai, please visit www.eisai.com (for global), us.eisai.com (for U.S.) or www.eisai.eu (for Europe, Middle East, Africa)
A BREAKTHROUGH IMMUNOTHERAPY THAT MAY HELP YOU FACE YOUR CANCER
IT’S TRU. KEYTRUDA.
SELECT A TYPE OF CANCER
- Advanced non–small cell lung cancer
- Melanoma
- Head and neck squamous cell cancer
- High-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC)
- Advanced urothelial bladder cancer
- Advanced kidney cancer (RCC)
- Advanced MSI-H/dMMR colorectal cancer
- Microsatellite instability-high cancer (MSI-H/dMMR)
- Classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL)
- Advanced gastric cancer
- Advanced cervical cancer
- Primary mediastinal B‑cell lymphoma (PMBCL)
- Advanced liver cancer (HCC)
- Advanced Merkel cell carcinoma
- Advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
- Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC)
Two treatments. One combination to help fight cancer.
KEYTRUDA + LENVIMA
KEYTRUDA and LENVIMA in Combination
KEYTRUDA and LENVIMA are prescription medicines used together to treat a kind of uterine cancer called advanced endometrial carcinoma:
- that is not microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR), and
- that has been treated with an anti-cancer medicine, and it did not work or is no longer working, and
- that cannot be cured by surgery or radiation.
This use is approved based on how many patients responded to treatment and how long they responded. Studies are ongoing to provide additional information about clinical benefit.
It is not known if LENVIMA is safe and effective in children.
https://www.keytrudalenvima.com/advanced-endometrial-cancer/
https://www.keytrudalenvima.com/advanced-endometrial-cancer/
Opdivo (nivolumab) plus Yervoy (ipilimumab)
Opdivo (nivolumab) plus Yervoy (ipilimumab)
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Plus LENVIMA® (lenvatinib)
Bristol Myers Squibb Receives European Commission Approval for Opdivo (nivolumab) plus Yervoy (ipilimumab) with Two Cycles of Chemotherapy for First-Line Treatment of Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Approval based on Phase 3 CheckMate -9LA trial results showing superior overall survival in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, regardless of PD-L1 expression or tumor histologies
European Commission decision marks the first time a dual immunotherapy with limited chemotherapy is approved for patients with non-small cell lung cancer in the EU
Opdivo plus Yervoy-based combinations now indicated in the EU for three different advanced cancer types: non-small cell lung cancer, melanoma and renal cell carcinoma
PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY)
OPDIVO® (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY® (ipilimumab)
https://www.opdivoyervoymnsclc.com/
For Patients With Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
OPDIVO® (nivolumab), in combination with YERVOY® (ipilimumab), is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors express PD-L1 (≥1%) as determined by an FDA-approved test, with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations.
OPDIVO, in combination with YERVOY and 2 cycles of platinum-doublet chemotherapy, is indicated for the first-line treatment of adult patients with metastatic or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations.
OPDIVO (10 mg/mL) and YERVOY (5 mg/mL) are injections for intravenous (IV) use.
Bristol Myers Squibb Receives European Commission Approval for Opdivo (nivolumab) plus Yervoy (ipilimumab) with Two Cycles of Chemotherapy for First-Line Treatment of Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
11/06/2020CATEGORY:
Approval based on Phase 3 CheckMate -9LA trial results showing superior overall survival in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, regardless of PD-L1 expression or tumor histologies
European Commission decision marks the first time a dual immunotherapy with limited chemotherapy is approved for patients with non-small cell lung cancer in the EU
Opdivo plus Yervoy-based combinations now indicated in the EU for three different advanced cancer types: non-small cell lung cancer, melanoma and renal cell carcinoma
PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY
https://news.bms.com/news/corporate-financial/2020/Bristol-Myers-Squibb-Receives-European-Commission-Approval-for-Opdivo-nivolumab-plus-Yervoy-ipilimumab-with-Two-Cycles-of-Chemotherapy-for-First-Line-Treatment-of-Metastatic-Non-Small-Cell-Lung-Cancer/default.aspx
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201106005029/en/
https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/BMY
https://www.opdivoyervoymnsclc.com/
XTANDI® (enzalutamide soft capsules)
Opdivo (nivolumab) plus Yervoy (ipilimumab)
XTANDI® (enzalutamide soft capsules)
XTANDI® (enzalutamide soft capsules) Approved by China NMPA for the Treatment of Non-Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
Fri November 6, 2020 2:00 AM|PR Newswire|About: ALPMY, PFEPR Newswire
TOKYO, Nov. 6, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Astellas Pharma Inc. (ALPMF) (TSE: 4503
These results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2018. Results from the study's overall survival secondary endpoint were published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2020.
XTANDI® (enzalutamide soft capsules)
What is XTANDI?
XTANDI is a prescription medicine used to treat men with prostate cancer that:
- no longer responds to a hormone therapy or surgical treatment to lower testosterone
- OR
- has spread to other parts of the body and responds to a hormone therapy or surgical treatment to lower testosterone
It is not known if XTANDI is safe and effective in females or children.
For more information, please visit our website at https://www.astellas.com/en.
XTANDI® (enzalutamide soft capsules) Approved by China NMPA for the Treatment of Non-Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
Nov 06, 2020
Enzalutamide is now NMPA-approved for both non-metastatic and metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer
TOKYO, November 6, 2020 – Astellas Pharma Inc. (TSE: 4503, President and CEO: Kenji Yasukawa, Ph.D., “Astellas”) today announced that the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has approved XTANDI® (enzalutamide soft capsules) for the treatment of adult men with non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) with high risk of metastasis. This is the second approved indication in China for enzalutamide, which is already available for adult men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) who are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic after failure of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), in whom chemotherapy is not yet indicated.
https://www.astellas.com/en/news/16156
View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xtandi-enzalutamide-soft-capsules-approved-by-china-nmpa-for-the-treatment-of-non-metastatic-castration-resistant-prostate-cancer-301167743.html
https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ALPMF
About the Pfizer (PFE)/Astellas Collaboration
In October 2009, Medivation, Inc. (MDVN), which is now part of Pfizer, and Astellas (TSE: 4503) entered into a global agreement to jointly develop and commercialize enzalutamide. The companies jointly commercialize enzalutamide in the United States and Astellas has responsibility for manufacturing and all additional regulatory filings globally, as well as commercializing enzalutamide outside the United States.
Zejula (niraparib)
Opdivo (nivolumab) plus Yervoy (ipilimumab)
XTANDI® (enzalutamide soft capsules)
29 October 2020
European Commission approves Zejula (niraparib) as first-line monotherapy maintenance treatment in advanced ovarian cancer
For media and investors only
Issued: London, UK
- Zejula is the first PARP inhibitor approved as monotherapy in the European Union for patients with platinum-responsive advanced ovarian cancer, regardless of biomarker status
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) plc
Zejula (niraparib)
Indication
ZEJULA is a prescription medicine used for the:
- maintenance treatment of adults with advanced ovarian cancer, fallopian tube cancer, or primary peritoneal cancer. ZEJULA is used after the cancer has responded (complete or partial response) to treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy.
- maintenance treatment of adults with ovarian cancer, fallopian tube cancer, or primary peritoneal cancer that comes back. ZEJULA is used after the cancer has responded (complete or partial response) to treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy.
- treatment of adults with advanced ovarian cancer, fallopian tube cancer, or primary peritoneal cancer who have been treated with 3 or more prior types of chemotherapy and who have tumors with:
- a certain "BRCA" gene mutation, or
- gene mutation problems and who have progressed more than 6 months after their last treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy.
- Your healthcare provider will perform a test to make sure that ZEJULA is right for you.
It is not known if ZEJULA is safe and effective in children.
Expanded use of Glaxo's Zejula OK'd in Europe
Oct. 29, 2020 10:24 AM ET|About: GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK)|By: Douglas W. House, SA News Editor
https://seekingalpha.com/news/3628351-expanded-use-of-glaxos-zejula-okd-in-europe
https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/GSK
aducanumab
Tecentriq (atezolizumab) and Avastin (bevacizumab)
Tecentriq (atezolizumab) and Avastin (bevacizumab)
European Medicines Agency Accepts Biogen’s Aducanumab Marketing Authorization Application for Alzheimer's Disease
Fri October 30, 2020 7:00 AM|GlobeNewswire|About: BIIB
- If approved, aducanumab would become the first therapy to reduce the clinical decline of Alzheimer’s disease and to meaningfully change the course of Alzheimer’s disease
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and TOKYO, Oct. 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Biogen (BIIB) and Eisai, Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan)
We routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at www.biogen.com.
For more information about Eisai Co., Ltd., please visit https://www.eisai.com.
Innovation in Alzheimer's
https://www.biogen.com/en_us/alzheimers-center.html
https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/BIIB
The company has a lot riding on a nod in either or both jurisdictions since it has an acute need for a growth driver. The company is optimistic about approval based on the totality of the data. Results from two Phase 3 studies were uneven however. In the EMERGE trial. the high-dose arm met the primary and two secondary endpoints at week 78 but the low-dose arm missed all endpoints. In the ENGAGE study, both the high-dose and low-dose arms failed to achieve the primary or secondary endpoints.
https://www.eisai.com/index.html
European Medicines Agency Accepts Biogen’s Aducanumab Marketing Authorization Application for Alzheimer's Disease If approved, aducanumab would become the first therapy to reduce the clinical decline of Alzheimer’s disease and to meaningfully change the course of Alzheimer’s disease
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and TOKYO, October 30, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Biogen (Nasdaq: BIIB) and Eisai, Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan)
https://www.eisai.com/news/2020/news202070.html
Tecentriq (atezolizumab) and Avastin (bevacizumab)
Tecentriq (atezolizumab) and Avastin (bevacizumab)
Tecentriq (atezolizumab) and Avastin (bevacizumab)
Roche’s Tecentriq in combination with Avastin approved in China for people with the most common form of liver cancer
- Tecentriq in combination with Avastin is the first and only cancer immunotherapy regimen approved for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer
- The Tecentriq combination improved overall survival and progression-free survival compared with sorafenib in people with unresectable HCC
- Approval by the China National Medical Products Administration brings a new treatment option to HCC patients in China, where almost half of all cases worldwide are found
Basel, 29 October 2020 – Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY)
For more information, please visit www.roche.com.
Roche doublet therapy OK'd in China for first-line liver cancer
Oct. 29, 2020 7:02 AM ET|About: Roche Holding AG (RHHBY)|By: Douglas W. House, SA News Editor
https://seekingalpha.com/news/3628076-roche-doublet-therapy-okd-in-china-for-first-line-liver-cancer
https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/RHHBY
TECENTRIQ may work with your immune system to fight cancer
Avastin® (bevacizumab) is a tumor-starving (anti-angiogenic) therapy. Avastin is designed to block a protein called vascular endothelial growth factor, or VEGF. Normal cells make VEGF, but some cancer cells make too much VEGF. Blocking VEGF may prevent the growth of new blood vessels, including normal blood vessels and blood vessels that feed tumors.
Indication
Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (mCRC)
Avastin is approved to treat metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) for:
- First- or second-line treatment in combination with intravenous fluorouracil–based chemotherapy
- Second-line treatment when used with fluoropyrimidine-based (combined with irinotecan or oxaliplatin) chemotherapy after cancer progresses following a first-line treatment that includes Avastin
Avastin is not approved for use after surgery was used as the primary treatment in patients with colon cancer which has not spread to other parts of the body.
Tecentriq (atezolizumab) and Avastin (bevacizumab)
European Commission approves Roche’s Tecentriq in combination with Avastin for the treatment of people with the most common form of liver cancer
- Tecentriq in combination with Avastin is the first and only cancer immunotherapy regimen approved in Europe for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer
- Tecentriq combination improved overall survival and progression-free survival compared with the previous standard of care
Basel, 2 November 2020 - Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY)
https://www.roche.com/media/releases/med-cor-2020-11-02.htm?source=news_body_link
Roche doublet therapy for first-line liver cancer approved in Europe
Nov. 2, 2020 6:50 AM ET |About: Roche Holding AG (RHHBY)|By: Douglas W. House, SA News Editor
https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/RHHBY
Libtayo® (cemiplimab-rwlc)
Tecentriq (atezolizumab) and Avastin (bevacizumab)
THOR-707 and KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab)
FDA Accepts for Priority Review Libtayo® (cemiplimab-rwlc) for Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer with PD-L1 Expression of ≥50%
Thu October 29, 2020 7:00 AM|PR Newswire|About: REGN
TARRYTOWN, N.Y., Oct. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (REGN)
Libtayo® (cemiplimab-rwlc)
Please see full Prescribing Information, including Medication Guide.
What is LIBTAYO?
LIBTAYO is a prescription medicine used to treat people with a type of skin cancer called cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) that has spread or cannot be cured by surgery or radiation.
It is not known if LIBTAYO is safe and effective in children.
For additional information about the company, please visit www.regeneron.com
View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fda-accepts-for-priority-review-libtayo-cemiplimab-rwlc-for-advanced-non-small-cell-lung-cancer-with-pd-l1-expression-of-50-301162428.html
https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/REGN
October 29, 2020 at 7:00 AM EDT Back
FDA ACCEPTS FOR PRIORITY REVIEW LIBTAYO® (CEMIPLIMAB-RWLC) FOR ADVANCED NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER WITH PD-L1 EXPRESSION OF ≥50%
TARRYTOWN, N.Y., Oct. 29, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN)
THOR-707 and KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab)
THOR-707 and KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab)
THOR-707 and KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab)
Sanofi to evaluate the safety and efficacy of novel investigational candidate THOR-707 and KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) in pursuit of establishing a new treatment option in oncology
Thu October 29, 2020 2:00 AM|GlobeNewswire|About: SNY
Sanofi (SNY) to evaluate the safety and efficacy of novel investigational candidate THOR-707 and KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) in pursuit of establishing a new treatment option in oncology
*THOR-707 (SAR444245) is a non-alpha IL-2 candidate with a best-in-class profile currently being evaluated in Phase 1 trials for the treatment of solid tumors
PARIS – October 29, 2020 – Sanofi has entered into an agreement with Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA (known as MSD outside the U.S. and Canada)
THOR-707 and KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab)
THOR-707 has the potential to be a best-in-class IL-2 therapeutic for the treatment of many types of malignancies and may demonstrate improved pharmacology allowing for less frequent dosing. In pre-clinical experiments, THOR-707 shows striking synergy with anti-PD-1 therapeutics.
October 29 2020
Sanofi to evaluate the safety and efficacy of novel investigational candidate THOR-707 and KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) in pursuit of establishing a new treatment option in oncology
https://www.sanofi.com/en/media-room/press-releases/2020/2020-10-29-07-00-00
https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/SNY
Sanofi (NASDAQ:SNY) inks agreement with Merck (NYSE:MRK) to conduct a Phase 2 clinical trial to evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary efficacy of THOR-707, a highly differentiated non-alpha IL-2 candidate combined with or in sequenced administration with MRK's Keytruda (pembrolizumab) in patients with various cancers.
SELECT A TYPE OF CANCER
- Advanced non–small cell lung cancer
- Melanoma
- Head and neck squamous cell cancer
- High-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC)
- Advanced urothelial bladder cancer
- Advanced kidney cancer (RCC)
- Advanced MSI-H/dMMR colorectal cancer
- Microsatellite instability-high cancer (MSI-H/dMMR)
- Classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL)
- Advanced gastric cancer
- Advanced cervical cancer
- Primary mediastinal B‑cell lymphoma (PMBCL)
- Advanced liver cancer (HCC)
- Advanced Merkel cell carcinoma
- Advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
- Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC)
https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/MRK
Merck sets ulta-high bar with impressive development of Keytruda
Oct. 31, 2020 12:30 AM ET |About: Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK)|By: Douglas W. House, SA News Editor
https://seekingalpha.com/news/3628459-merck-sets-ulta-high-bar-impressive-development-of-keytruda
Keytruda (pembrolizumab) for a mid-stage study evaluating the PD-1 inhibitor with THOR-707, a "not-alpha" interleukin-2 (long-acting version of the immune system-stimulating protein), in a range of cancers.
Forxiga (dapagliflozin).
THOR-707 and KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab)
Forxiga (dapagliflozin).
Forxiga cardiovascular outcomes benefit approved in China
PUBLISHED28 October 2020
28 October 2020 07:00 GMT
Update to approval includes DECLARE-TIMI 58 Phase III trial that reduced the risk of composite of hospitalisation for heart failure or cardiovascular death in type-2 diabetes
China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has updated the label for AstraZeneca’s Forxiga (dapagliflozin) to include data from the DECLARE-TIMI 58 Phase III trial.
DECLARE-TIMI 58 demonstrated that Forxiga achieved a statistically significant reduction in the composite endpoint of hospitalisation for heart failure (hHF) or cardiovascular (CV) death, versus placebo, in adults with type-2 diabetes (T2D) and established CV disease or multiple CV risk factors. The trial confirmed the well-established safety profile of Forxiga.1
DECLARE-TIMI 58 is the largest sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor CV outcomes trial conducted to date, and data from the trial were published in The New England Journal of Medicine in January 2019.
CV benefit claim for AstraZeneca's dapagliflozin OK'd in China
Oct. 28, 2020 7:16 AM ET|About: AstraZeneca PLC (AZN)|By: Douglas W. House, SA News Editor
https://seekingalpha.com/news/3627101-cv-benefit-claim-for-astrazenecas-dapagliflozin-okd-in-china
What is FARXIGA?
FARXIGA is a prescription medicine used to:
improve blood sugar control along with diet and exercise in adults with type 2 diabetes
reduce the risk of hospitalization for heart failure in adults with type 2 diabetes and known cardiovascular disease or multiple cardiovascular risk factors
reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for heart failure in adults with heart failure (when the heart is weak and cannot pump enough blood to the rest of your body)
FARXIGA should not be used to treat people with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis (increased ketones in your blood or urine).
Please see full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for FARXIGA.
You may report side effects related to AstraZeneca products by clicking here.
https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/AZN
Imfinzi approved in the US for less-frequent, fixed-dose use
PUBLISHED20 November 2020
20 November 2020 07:00 GMT
Four-week dosing now approved in all Imfinzi indications, reducing medical visits and improving patient convenience
Veklury® (remdesivir)
THOR-707 and KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab)
Forxiga (dapagliflozin).
October 22, 2020
U.S. Food and Drug Administration Approves Gilead’s Antiviral Veklury® (remdesivir) for Treatment of COVID-19
-- Veklury Is First and Only FDA-Approved Treatment for COVID-19 in the United States --
-- Veklury Shortened Time to Recovery By Five Days in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients --
FOSTER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD)
please review the Fact Sheets and FDA Letter of Authorization available at www.gilead.com/remdesivir.
For more information on Gilead’s response to the coronavirus outbreak please visit the company’s dedicated page: https://www.gilead.com/purpose/advancing-global-health/covid-19.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201022006149/en/
Veklury® (remdesivir)
https://www.gilead.com/remdesivir
FDA OKs Gilead's remdesivir
Oct. 22, 2020 4:01 PM ET|About: Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD)|By: Douglas W. House, SA News Editor
https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/GILD
October 20, 2020
Final report confirms remdesivir benefits for COVID-19
https://seekingalpha.com/news/3625009-fda-oks-gileads-remdesivir
Prognosis
Gilead Virus Therapy Remdesivir Gains Approval From FDA
By Robert Langreth October 22, 2020, 4:06 PM EDT Updated on October 22, 2020, 4:55 PM EDT
- Antiviral medicine becomes first approved drug for Covid-19
- Hospital patients who got the drug recovered five days faster
Gilead Sciences' remdesivir cuts COVID-19 death risk in patients on low-flow oxygen
by Eric Sagonowsky | Oct 9, 2020 9:13am
https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/nda/2020/214787Orig1s000Sumr.pdf
Gilead's remdesivir wins positive opinion from EU for COVID-19
Dec. 11, 2020 3:10 PM ET Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD)By: Vandana Singh, SA News Editor
Restriction of indication for Veklury
The CHMP adopted a positive opinion recommending a change to the product information for Veklury (remdesivir) to provide clearer instructions in which COVID-19 patients requiring supplementary oxygen it should be used. More information on the new indication is available on the summary of opinion document in the grid below.
https://stories.gilead.com/articles/open-letter-from-merdad-parsey
https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/GILD
BIOTECNOVA™
OPDIVO® (nivolumab) in Combination with CABOMETYX® (cabozantinib)
OPDIVO® (nivolumab) in Combination with CABOMETYX® (cabozantinib)
OPDIVO® (nivolumab) in Combination with CABOMETYX® (cabozantinib)
U.S. Food and Drug Administration Accepts for Priority Review Applications for OPDIVO® (nivolumab) in Combination with CABOMETYX® (cabozantinib) in Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma
Mon October 19, 2020 6:59 AM|Business Wire|About: BMY, EXEL
U.S. Food and Drug Administration assigned a target action date of February 20, 2021
Applications based on pivotal Phase 3 CheckMate -9ER trial, which showed OPDIVO in combination with CABOMETYX improved overall survival, doubled median progression-free survival and objective response rate, and demonstrated a manageable safety profile
Results from CheckMate -9ER recently presented during a Presidential Symposium at the European Society for Medical Oncology Virtual Congress 2020
PRINCETON, N.J. & ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) and Exelixis, Inc. (EXEL) (NASDAQ: EXEL)
OPDIVO® (nivolumab) in Combination with CABOMETYX® (cabozantinib)
OPDIVO® Immunotherapy: Giving People a Choice and a Chance Against Their Cancer
ADVANCED LUNG CANCER
NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER
- OPDIVO + YERVOY for certain adults with newly diagnosed advanced non-small cell lung cancer that tests positive for PD-L1
- OPDIVO + YERVOY, in combination with chemotherapy, for adults with newly diagnosed advanced non-small cell lung cancer
- OPDIVO for people who have had prior treatments for non-small cell lung cancer
SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER
Choose your condition:
- Advanced Lung Cancer
- Advanced Kidney Cancer
- Advanced Liver Cancer
- Colorectal Cancer (MSI-H/dMMR)
- Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Cancer
- Melanoma
- Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer
- Advanced Bladder Cancer
- Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma
What is CABOMETYX?
CABOMETYX is a prescription medicine used to treat people with:
- Advanced kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma)
- Liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) who have been previously treated with the medicine sorafenib.
It is not known if CABOMETYX is safe and effective in children.
Please see accompanying full Prescribing Information: https://cabometyx.com/downloads/CABOMETYXUSPI.pdf.
For more information about Bristol Myers Squibb, visit us at