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Lupin Receives FDA Approval for Generic Bromfenac Ophthalmic Solution for Post-Cataract Surgery Treatment

  • Lupin Limited received FDA approval for its abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) for bromfenac ophthalmic solution 0.09%, a generic equivalent of Bausch + Lomb's Bromday ophthalmic solution.
  • The topical NSAID is indicated for treating postoperative inflammation and reducing ocular pain following cataract surgery, with a dosing regimen of one drop daily starting one day before surgery through 14 days post-surgery.
  • The generic product will be manufactured at Lupin's Pithampur facility in India and targets an estimated annual US market worth $11 million according to IQVIA data.
  • The approval enables Lupin to market a lower-cost alternative to the brand-name drug without requiring costly clinical trials, as the generic demonstrated bioequivalence to the original formulation.

European Regulators Recommend Cabometyx for Radioactive Iodine-Refractory Thyroid Cancer Based on 78% Reduction in Disease Progression

  • The European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended approval of Cabometyx (cabozantinib) for treating radioactive iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer patients who have progressed after prior systemic therapy.
  • The recommendation is based on the COSMIC-311 Phase III trial, which demonstrated a 78% reduction in risk of disease progression or death versus placebo (HR: 0.22; 96% CI: 0.13-0.36; p<0.0001) with a median progression-free survival of 11.0 versus 1.9 months.
  • This positive opinion addresses a critical unmet medical need, as there are currently no standard-of-care treatment options for patients with radioactive iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer who progress after first-line therapy.
  • The CHMP recommendation follows the FDA's approval of Cabometyx in September 2021 for the same indication in adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older.

First Veteran Receives FDA-Approved Qalsody for SOD1-ALS at Houston VA Medical Center

  • Roy Swearingen, a 65-year-old Marine Corps veteran from Texas, became the first veteran in the United States to receive Qalsody, an FDA-approved medication for SOD1-mutated ALS.
  • Qalsody represents the first approved treatment targeting a genetic cause of ALS, specifically for patients with mutations in the superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) gene, affecting 1-2% of ALS patients.
  • The Houston VA ALS Center's rapid implementation of this cutting-edge therapy demonstrates the VA's commitment to providing veterans with timely access to innovative treatments.
  • Veterans face higher ALS risk compared to the general population, making early detection and specialized care crucial for optimal quality of life management.

Vorasidenib Shows Promise as First Targeted Therapy for IDH-Mutant Low-Grade Gliomas

  • Vorasidenib, the first targeted therapy developed specifically for brain cancer, more than doubled progression-free survival in patients with recurrent grade 2 glioma carrying IDH1/IDH2 mutations, extending the time without disease progression from 11.1 months to 27.7 months.
  • The international INDIGO trial involving 331 patients demonstrated that vorasidenib delayed the need for chemotherapy and radiation by nearly 17 months compared to placebo, with 85.6% of patients going 18 months before requiring next treatment.
  • The drug showed excellent tolerability with limited adverse effects, offering a new treatment option for younger patients typically in their 30s and 40s who face cognitive deficits from standard radiation and chemotherapy treatments.
  • Results from this phase 3 study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at ASCO, are expected to establish a new standard of care for IDH-mutant low-grade gliomas pending FDA approval.

U.S. Tuberous Sclerosis Drug Market Projected to Reach $1.25 Billion by 2030, Growing at 23.1% CAGR

  • The U.S. tuberous sclerosis drug market is expected to grow from $237.2 million in 2022 to $1.25 billion by 2030, driven by FDA approvals of new treatments and increasing disease prevalence.
  • FDA-approved treatments include Afinitor (everolimus) for patients aged 2 and above, approved in 2018, and Epidiolex (cannabidiol) for patients aged 1 and above, approved in 2020.
  • mTOR inhibitors are gaining significant traction in treatment protocols, showing effectiveness for internal tumors and skin lesions, with FDA approval for treating lung complications like Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) in 2015.

USDA Approves First Therapeutic Treatment for Canine Parvovirus Using Monoclonal Antibody Technology

  • The USDA has granted conditional license for Elanco's Canine Parvovirus Monoclonal Antibody, marking the first approved therapeutic solution to treat canine parvovirus.
  • In efficacy studies, all 28 treated puppies survived with significantly faster recovery times for vomiting, inappetence, and lethargy compared to traditional supportive care.
  • The single intravenous dose treatment could reduce hospitalization costs and make parvovirus treatment more accessible to pet owners who previously couldn't afford intensive care.
  • This breakthrough represents the first monoclonal antibody treatment for Elanco and addresses a critical unmet need in veterinary medicine for a disease with over 90% fatality rate if untreated.

FDA Approves Two Bispecific T-Cell Engagers for Relapsed/Refractory B-Cell Lymphomas

  • The FDA has granted accelerated approval to epcoritamab-bysp (Epkinly), the first T-cell engaging bispecific antibody for relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy.
  • Epcoritamab demonstrated a 61% overall response rate with a 38% complete response rate in the EPCORE NHL-1 trial, with a median duration of response of 15.6 months.
  • The FDA also approved glofitamab-gxbm (Columvi), another CD20/CD3-targeted bispecific T-cell engager, showing a 56% overall response rate and 43% complete response rate in clinical trials.
  • Both therapies carry boxed warnings for serious immune-related adverse reactions including cytokine release syndrome and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome.

Novel BCMA-Targeted Therapies and Emerging Agents Transform Treatment Landscape for Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma

  • BCMA-directed therapies including CAR T-cell products ide-cel and cilta-cel, along with bispecific T-cell engager teclistamab, have demonstrated unprecedented efficacy in heavily pretreated patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.
  • Emerging bispecific antibodies elranatamab and talquetamab show promising response rates of 61-74% in triple-class refractory patients, offering new treatment options for those who have exhausted conventional therapies.
  • Novel agents including mezigdomide (a CELMoD), purinostat mesylate (HDAC inhibitor), and bispecific CS1-BCMA CAR T cells are expanding therapeutic options with manageable safety profiles.
  • The treatment paradigm is shifting toward earlier use of BCMA-targeted therapies and novel combinations, as patients increasingly become refractory to multiple drug classes including immunomodulators, proteasome inhibitors, and anti-CD38 antibodies.
NCT02343042Active, Not RecruitingPhase 1
Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc
Posted 10/1/2015

Trastuzumab Deruxtecan Gains Regulatory Approvals in China and Europe for HER2-Positive Cancers

  • China's National Medical Products Administration approved trastuzumab deruxtecan for HER2-positive breast cancer patients who received prior anti-HER2 therapies, based on DESTINY-Breast03 trial showing 72% reduction in disease progression risk.
  • The European Commission approved trastuzumab deruxtecan as second-line treatment for HER2-positive advanced gastric cancer, marking the first antibody-drug conjugate approved in Europe for this indication.
  • DESTINY-Breast03 demonstrated superior efficacy with median progression-free survival not reached for trastuzumab deruxtecan versus 6.8 months for trastuzumab emtansine.
  • The approvals expand treatment options for patients with HER2-positive cancers who face poor outcomes after initial therapy progression.

FDA Approves Elacestrant as First Oral SERD for Advanced ER+/HER2- Breast Cancer

  • The FDA has approved elacestrant (Orserdu), marking the first oral selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD) to demonstrate improved efficacy over standard of care treatments in advanced breast cancer.
  • In the phase 3 EMERALD trial, elacestrant reduced the risk of progression or death by 30% in all patients and by 45% in patients with ESR1 mutations compared to standard endocrine therapy.
  • The approval provides a new oral treatment option for patients with estrogen receptor-positive/HER2-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer following prior endocrine therapy including CDK4/6 inhibitors.
  • Elacestrant showed manageable safety profile with nausea being the most common adverse event, occurring in 35% of patients in the treatment arm.

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