Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust

Breakthrough Breast Cancer Drug Capivasertib Approved for NHS Use

a month ago

• A groundbreaking twice-daily pill called capivasertib (Truqap) has been approved for NHS use, targeting hormone receptor-positive HER2-negative breast cancer by blocking cancer growth mechanisms. • Clinical trials demonstrated the drug extends time before cancer progression by over four months when used alongside hormone therapy Fulvestrant, offering new hope for approximately 3,000 women annually. • The treatment specifically benefits patients with PIK3CA, AKT1 or PTEN gene mutations, allowing many to maintain good quality of life with fewer debilitating side effects compared to other treatment regimens.

Owkin Launches ATLANTIS: AI-Powered Patient Data Mining Initiative Across 20 Global Healthcare Centers

3 months ago

• Owkin has initiated ATLANTIS, a comprehensive patient data mining program partnering with 20 leading healthcare institutions across seven countries, set to conclude by May 2025. • The project will analyze data across 11 therapeutic areas, including seven oncology programs, three immunology and inflammation conditions, and Alzheimer's disease, utilizing Owkin's AI platform Owkin K. • This initiative aims to break down data silos by integrating diverse medical data sources, including health records, imaging, and diagnostic results, to accelerate drug discovery and development.

Verastem Oncology to Present New LGSOC Treatment Data at SGO 2025 Annual Meeting

3 months ago

• Verastem Oncology will present additional analyses from the Phase 2 RAMP 201 trial evaluating avutometinib plus defactinib in recurrent low-grade serous ovarian cancer at SGO 2025, building on their FDA Priority Review submission. • The presentations include new subgroup analyses by KRAS mutational status, supporting the company's ongoing efforts to advance treatment options for RAS/MAPK pathway-driven cancers. • The company's NDA for the avutometinib-defactinib combination therapy has received Priority Review from the FDA with a PDUFA date of June 30, 2025, for KRAS mutant LGSOC patients.

Real-World AVION Study Affirms Avelumab Plus Axitinib Efficacy in Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma

5 months ago

• The AVION study demonstrated that first-line avelumab plus axitinib is effective and safe for advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in real-world settings. • The 12-month overall survival rate was 82.7% among patients receiving the combination therapy, aligning with results from prior clinical trials. • Common treatment-related adverse events included diarrhea, fatigue, and hypertension, with manageable safety profiles and stable health-related quality of life. • These findings support the use of avelumab plus axitinib as a frontline treatment option for advanced RCC, reinforcing its clinical benefit.

Novartis' Kisqali Receives EC Approval for Early Breast Cancer Treatment

6 months ago

• The European Commission (EC) has approved Novartis' Kisqali (ribociclib) in combination with an aromatase inhibitor for adjuvant treatment of HR+/HER2- early breast cancer. • The approval is based on the Phase III NATALEE trial, demonstrating a 25.1% reduction in the risk of disease recurrence compared to endocrine therapy alone. • Kisqali is now approved for a broader population of early breast cancer patients in Europe, including those with node-negative disease at high risk of recurrence. • The decision follows positive recommendations and aligns with recent FDA approvals and NCCN guidelines, reinforcing Kisqali's role in early breast cancer treatment.

Inavolisib Triple Therapy Doubles Progression-Free Survival in PIK3CA-Mutated Breast Cancer

7 months ago

• A novel three-drug combination of inavolisib, palbociclib, and fulvestrant significantly extends progression-free survival in patients with PIK3CA-mutated, HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer. • The INAVO120 trial demonstrated that the triple therapy delayed disease progression by an average of 15 months compared to 7.3 months with palbociclib and fulvestrant plus placebo. • After 18 months, 46.2% of patients on the inavolisib combination showed no disease progression, versus 21.1% in the placebo group, marking a potential 'transformative advance'. • The FDA has already approved the three-drug regimen, and researchers anticipate it becoming a standard of care pending licensing in other regions.

Inavolisib Combination Therapy Doubles Survival in Advanced Breast Cancer

7 months ago

• A novel three-drug combination, including inavolisib, has demonstrated a doubling of survival time in patients with advanced breast cancer compared to standard treatments. • The international trial involved 325 patients, many with cancer spread to multiple organs, highlighting the potential of this regimen in challenging cases. • The combination therapy includes inavolisib along with two drugs already available, potentially facilitating quicker adoption into clinical practice. • Researchers from the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust led the study, marking a significant advancement in breast cancer treatment.

Inavolisib Combination Therapy Doubles Progression-Free Survival in Advanced Breast Cancer

7 months ago

• A three-drug combination of inavolisib, palbociclib, and fulvestrant significantly extends progression-free survival in patients with PIK3CA-mutated, HR-positive advanced breast cancer. • The study, published in _The New England Journal of Medicine_, showed the combination therapy delayed disease progression by an average of 15 months compared to 7.3 months with placebo. • After 18 months, 46.2% of patients on the three-drug therapy showed no disease progression, compared to 21.1% in the placebo group. • The inavolisib combination, recently approved by the FDA, represents a potential transformative advance for a common and aggressive form of breast cancer.

UK Government Invests in AI and MedTech to Revolutionize Cancer Detection and Treatment

8 months ago

• The UK government is investing in new technologies, including AI, to improve cancer detection and treatment, aiming to boost the life sciences industry. • New partnerships between the NHS, pharmaceutical companies, and universities will trial innovative approaches for faster cancer diagnoses and better treatments. • Funding of £118 million will establish five new health technology hubs across the UK, fostering collaboration between academia and the private sector. • The investments also focus on personalized treatments and utilizing patient data to train AI models for quicker and more accurate cancer diagnoses.

IMU Biosciences Joins MANIFEST Consortium to Advance Cancer Immunotherapy Research

8 months ago

• IMU Biosciences joins the MANIFEST consortium, a UK-wide initiative focused on understanding immunotherapy response and side effects in cancer patients. • The consortium, backed by £9 million in government funding and £12.9 million from industry, aims to identify predictive biomarkers for immunotherapy outcomes. • IMU Biosciences will analyze thousands of patient blood samples using its AI-powered immune profiling platform to identify key immune signatures. • The research will initially focus on melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, bladder cancer, and triple-negative breast cancer, involving 6,000 patients.

PETRA Trial Shows Promise in Metastatic Breast Cancer with Novel Drug Combination

8 months ago

• A patient with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer experienced a 65% reduction in tumor size through the PETRA clinical trial. • The trial utilizes a combination of AZD5305, a PARP inhibitor, and Trastuzumab Deruxtecan (T-Dxd) to target cancer cells. • The PETRA trial is investigating the safety and efficacy of AZD5305 in combination with other treatments across various advanced solid tumors. • This approach offers renewed hope for patients with aggressive breast cancer who have limited treatment options.