MedPath

Tagged News

DiviTum® TKa Blood Test Shows Promise in Predicting Immunotherapy Response Across Multiple Cancers

Precision MedicineOncology
  • New research from Karolinska Institutet demonstrates that Biovica's DiviTum® TKa blood test, when combined with inflammation protein biomarkers, significantly improves prediction of immunotherapy efficacy in melanoma patients.
  • Patients with favorable biomarker profiles showed dramatically improved 5-year survival rates of 83% compared to just 11% in those with high-risk profiles, potentially addressing the challenge that less than half of patients benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitors.
  • Additional DiviTum® TKa data will be presented at the upcoming ASCO meeting, expanding its application as a predictive biomarker across three cancer types: hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer, BRAF V600-mutated melanoma, and ovarian cancer.

MR-LINAC Technology Advances Precision Radiation Therapy Across Multiple Cancer Types

Precision MedicineAIOncology
  • MR-LINAC technology enables adaptive radiation treatment planning with real-time imaging, allowing clinicians to customize radiation delivery based on daily changes in patient anatomy and tumor position.
  • The technology has shown promising early results in reducing toxicity rates in pancreatic and prostate cancers by precisely targeting tumors while sparing nearby sensitive organs.
  • Despite longer treatment sessions and potential claustrophobia issues, MR-LINAC offers significant advantages for treating cancers near sensitive organs, with ongoing research exploring novel MR contrast agents and biology-adaptive radiation approaches.

The MOMENTUM Study: The Multiple Outcome Evaluation of Radiation Therapy Using the MR-Linac Study

NCT04075305Recruiting
UMC Utrecht
Posted 2/1/2019

Early Rituximab Treatment Shows Significant Benefits for Advanced-Stage, Low Tumor Burden Follicular Lymphoma

Monoclonal AntibodyOncology
  • Recent phase III JCOG1411/FLORA trial demonstrates that early rituximab administration significantly delays disease progression to high tumor burden follicular lymphoma and postpones the need for cytotoxic chemotherapy compared to watchful waiting.
  • Long-term 15-year follow-up data from a separate phase III trial confirms the durability of rituximab's benefits, with 65% of patients in the rituximab maintenance group avoiding new treatments compared to just 34% in the watchful waiting group.
  • Despite clear benefits in delaying disease progression, both studies found no significant differences in overall survival between early rituximab treatment and watchful waiting approaches, prompting ongoing debate about optimal timing of intervention.

Rituximab in Treating Patients With Newly Diagnosed Stage II, Stage III, or Stage IV Follicular Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

NCT00112931CompletedPhase 3
University College, London
Posted 9/1/2004

Phase 3 MoonRISe-1 Trial Evaluates TAR-210 Erdafitinib System for Bladder Cancer

Targeted TherapyOncologyPrecision Medicine
  • Johnson & Johnson launches Phase 3 MoonRISe-1 trial investigating TAR-210, a novel intravesical erdafitinib-releasing system, versus standard BCG therapy for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.
  • TAR-210 represents an innovative targeted approach for FGFR-positive bladder cancer patients, potentially offering improved local drug delivery with reduced systemic side effects.
  • The study aims to assess efficacy and safety outcomes in patients with high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, addressing a significant unmet need in bladder cancer treatment.

USDA Approves First Autologous Immunotherapy for Canine Osteosarcoma

Drug ApprovalOncology
  • ELIAS Cancer Immunotherapy (ECI) has received full approval from the USDA Center for Veterinary Biologics as the first autologous prescription product for treating canine osteosarcoma.
  • The innovative treatment works by conditioning the dog's immune system to recognize cancer cells, then delivering activated killer T cells that target and attack those specific cancer cells.
  • ECI is available at 100 authorized treatment centers across the United States, with the treatment process requiring cancer tissue collection prior to surgery for manufacturing the personalized therapy.

Amphista Therapeutics Advances Novel BRD9 Degraders Using Proprietary Targeted Glue Technology

OncologyDrug Discovery
  • Amphista Therapeutics has developed a novel mechanism for BRD9 degradation using its proprietary Targeted Glue® technology, which recruits DCAF16 E3 ligase instead of traditional CRBN or VHL approaches.
  • The company's Eclipsys® platform enables the rational design of orally bioavailable protein degraders with superior drug-like properties, demonstrating rapid, deep, and persistent degradation of BRD9, an emerging target in Acute Myeloid Leukemia.
  • Amphista plans to advance its BRD9 degrader into clinical trials in 2026, potentially offering a first-in-class therapeutic option with performance characteristics beyond the limitations of current targeted protein degradation approaches.

NHS England Denies Access to Life-Extending Prostate Cancer Treatments Despite Strong Clinical Evidence

OncologyDrug Approval
• Thousands of men with prostate cancer in England are being denied access to abiraterone, a life-extending drug available free on the NHS in Scotland and Wales for high-risk patients. • NHS England's refusal is based on "overall affordability" concerns, forcing English patients to pay £250 monthly for private prescriptions or go without treatment. • Separately, NHS England is ignoring breakthrough research showing docetaxel chemotherapy can add 22 months of life when used earlier in metastatic prostate cancer patients. • The docetaxel findings from the UK-funded STAMPEDE trial represent a 25% improvement in overall survival, but regulatory barriers prevent formal approval despite the drug being low-cost and off-patent.

Ascelia Pharma Advances Orviglance NDA Following Positive FDA Meeting, Submission Planned for Mid-2025

Drug ApprovalOncologyRare Disease
  • Ascelia Pharma has received positive guidance from the FDA regarding its New Drug Application for Orviglance, a novel contrast agent for MRI liver imaging in patients with impaired kidney function.
  • The company's Phase 3 SPARKLE study met its primary endpoint with statistical significance (p<0.001), demonstrating Orviglance's ability to improve visualization of focal liver lesions in the target patient population.
  • Following successful completion of nine clinical studies involving 286 participants, Ascelia plans to submit the Orviglance NDA by mid-2025, likely in early August, with a cash runway extending through at least the end of 2025.

ProSense® Cryoablation Shows Promise as Non-Surgical Alternative for Early-Stage Breast Cancer

Oncology
  • Multiple studies presented at major European oncology conferences demonstrate ProSense® cryoablation system's effectiveness with 94% complete ablation rate in early-stage breast cancer patients.
  • Patient satisfaction data reveals 95% of participants would choose cryoablation over traditional breast-conserving surgery, with 100% treatment tolerance and zero complications in key trials.
  • IceCure Medical's minimally invasive liquid nitrogen-based technology is gaining commercial traction in Europe, supported by growing evidence that cryoablation with adjuvant therapy produces recurrence rates comparable to surgical approaches.

Regeneron's Linvoseltamab Shows Promising Results in Phase 1b Trial for Multiple Myeloma

Oncology
  • Regeneron Pharmaceuticals has reported positive initial results from its Phase 1b LINKER-MM2 trial of linvoseltamab for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, demonstrating robust efficacy rates.
  • The company plans to advance linvoseltamab through additional clinical trials, positioning it as a potential new treatment option in the multiple myeloma therapeutic landscape.
  • Despite broader market declines due to trade tensions, Regeneron's share price increased by 2% following the announcement, reflecting investor confidence in the company's pipeline innovation.
© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath
HomeTerms & ConditionsPrivacy Policy