The FDA has granted approval to Daratumumab in combination with carfilzomib and dexamethasone as treatment of adult patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma this week and also granted 2 Fast Track designations to paxalisib for treatment of glioblastoma and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy PBCAR0191 for treatment of advanced B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Priority Review designations were also granted to a fixed dose of durvalumab in non–small cell lung cancer and trilaciclib (G1T28) in small cell lung cancer. In other FDA news, a phase 1 trial of P-PSMA-01 in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer was placed on a partial clinical hold.

These updates and others were trending this week:

KEYNOTE-590 Demonstrates OS Benefit With Pembrolizumab Plus Chemotherapy in Advanced Esophageal Cancer

The primary end point of the phase 3 KEYNOTE-590 trial was met when pembrolizumab (Keytruda) plus chemotherapy improved both overall and progression-free survival as initial treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic esophageal cancer during an interim analysis of the study.

Pazopanib Activity in RAI-Refractory Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Corroborated in Prospective Study

Pazopanib (Votrient) was confirmed active with manageable toxicities as treatment of patients with progressive radioactive-iodine–refractory differentiated thyroid cancer.

FDA’s Fast Track Designation Granted to Allogeneic CAR Therapy for B-cell Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

The FDA has granted a fast track designation to PBCAR0191, a CD19-directed allogeneic chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, for the treatment of patients with advanced B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

FDA Grants Priority Review to Trilaciclib in Chemotherapy-Treated Small Cell Lung Cancer

The FDA has granted Priority Review to the New Drug Application for trilaciclib for the treatment of patients with small cell lung cancer who are receiving chemotherapy.

Expert Highlights Role of BTK Inhibition in Treatment Landscape for CLL

In an interview with Targeted Oncology, Jennifer Woyach, MD, discussed the current treatment landscape for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and some of the latest research regarding the BTK inhibitors.

Exploring Unmet Needs and BTK Inhibitors in the MCL Population

Nilanjan Ghosh, MD, of the Levine Cancer Institute, Atrium Health, discusses the current unmet needs in mantle cell lymphoma and how Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitors are being looked at to fill that need for patients with high-risk disease in the first line.

Newly Diagnosed ALK+ Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer

Stephen Liu, MD, of Medstar Georgetown University Hospital, shares impressions on the way a 57-year-old man with ALK-positive metastatic non–small cell lung cancer was managed, highlighting the rationale for using a second-generation ALK inhibitor as treatment.

Special Feature: COVID-19 Update

Leronlimab Shows Statistically Significant Improvement in Efficacy Outcome in Mild-to-Moderate COVID-19

Leronlimab (PRO 140), demonstrated improvement in total clinical symptom score at day 3 in patients with mild-to-moderate symptoms from COVID-19.

COVID-19 Severity in CLL Correlates With 3 Disease Characteristics

The severity of COVID-19 increases with age in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. However, age and the existence of comorbidities may not impact death from COVID-19.