Gina Columbus

Articles by Gina Columbus

Fourth Trastuzumab Biosimilar Granted Approval by FDA

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A fourth trastuzumab biosimilar has been granted approval by the FDA. The approval was for PF-05280014 for the treatment of patients with HER2-overexpressing breast cancer as well as HER2-overexpressing metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.

The combination regimen of venetoclax and obinutuzumab is seeking FDA approval; a supplemental new drug application has been submitted to the FDA for the combination as a treatment for patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia who also have coexisting medical conditions, according to an announcement from Genentech (Roche).

FDA Gives Fedratinib Priority Review Designation for Myelofibrosis

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The highly selective JAK2 inhibitor fedratinib has received a priority review designation by the FDA as a treatment for patients with myelofibrosis. The designation was granted based on findings from the phase III JAKARTA and phase II JAKARTA-2 trials.

Mirvetuximab Soravtansine Falls Short in Ovarian Cancer Trial

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The phase III FORWARD I trial fell short of its primary endpoint, as findings showed the antibody-drug conjugate mirvetuximab soravtansine did not result in a progression-free survival improvement compared with chemotherapy in patients with folate receptor alpha–positive, platinum-resistant ovarian cancer and in an overall patient population.

Aprepitant Injection Receives FDA Approval for CINV

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The indication for aprepitant injectable emulsion has been expanded by the FDA to include a 2-minute intravenous use for the prevention of acute and delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.

Subcutaneous use of trastuzumab and hyaluronidase-oysk injection has been approved by the FDA in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of select patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer, in combination with paclitaxel in patients with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer as a frontline treatment, and alone for patients with metastatic disease who have received at least 1 prior chemotherapy regimen.

Pembrolizumab Falls Short in Confirmatory HCC Trial

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Merck, the developer of pembrolizumab, has announced that the coprimary endpoints of the KEYNOTE-240 trial were not met, as adding the agent to best supportive care failed to improve progression-free or overall survival in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma who were previously treated with systemic therapy.

Entrectinib has been granted a priority review designation by the FDA as a therapy for&nbsp;select adult and pediatric patients with <em>NTRK</em> fusion&ndash;positive locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors, as well as patients with metastatic <em>ROS1</em>-positive non&ndash;small cell lung cancer, according to Genentech, the developer of the multikinase inhibitor.

Split-Dosing of Daratumumab Approved by FDA for Multiple Myeloma

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Based on findings from the phase Ib EQUULEUS (MMY1001) trial, a&nbsp;split-dosing regimen of daratumumab has been approved by the FDA&nbsp;for patients with multiple myeloma, providing physicians the option to split the first infusion of the CD38-directed monoclonal antibody over 2 consecutive days or complete in a single session.

Findings from the phase III KEYNOTE-426 study demonstrated a significantly improved progression-free survival and overall survival with the combination&nbsp;pembrolizumab plus axitinib versus&nbsp;sunitinib in previously-untreated patients with&nbsp;clear cell metastatic renal cell carcinoma, according to a prescast ahead of the&nbsp;2019 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium.

Based on data from the phase III&nbsp;KEYNOTE-048 trial,&nbsp;pembrolizumab has received a priority review designation from the FDA alone or&nbsp;in combination with platinum and 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

On Recommendation From FDA, No NDA to be Filed for Tivozanib in RCC

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Based on a recommendation from the FDA,&nbsp;Aveo Oncology has decided not to submit a new drug application for&nbsp;tivozanib. The FDA has advised it was not satisfied with&nbsp;the preliminary overall survival data from the phase III TIVO-3 trial of patients with highly refractory, advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Based on data from the&nbsp;phase III KEYNOTE-189 trial, the FDA has expanded the approval for&nbsp;pemetrexed injection in combination with pembrolizumab and platinum-based chemotherapy to include the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic nonsquamous non&ndash;small cell lung cancer without <em>EGFR</em> or <em>ALK</em> alterations.

BMS Withdraws Nivolumab/Ipilimumab Application in TMB-High NSCLC

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Bristol-Myers Squibb has announced its decision to withdraw a&nbsp;supplemental biologics license application currently with&nbsp;the FDA seeking frontline approval for the combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab for patients with advanced non&ndash;small cell lung cancer with tumor mutational burden &ge;10 mutations per megabase.

Direct-to-Consumer Test for Hereditary CRC Syndrome Approved by FDA

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A&nbsp;direct-to-consumer genetic test has been approved by the FDA for providing a&nbsp;risk report on MUTYH-associated polyposis, a hereditary colorectal cancer syndrome, according to&nbsp;23andMe, the personal genetics company that manufactures the test.<br /> &nbsp;