AstraZeneca

Preoperative chemoradiotherapy did not improve survival over perioperative chemotherapy alone in resectable gastric and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, according to TOPGEAR data. Median overall survival was 46.4 months vs 49.4 months, with no significant differences in progression-free survival. However, preoperative chemoradiotherapy significantly improved pathological outcomes, including complete response rates and tumor downstaging.

SOPHiA GENETICS unveils research at ESMO 2024, identifying NSCLC patients likely to benefit from tremelimumab, durvalumab, and chemotherapy via multimodal machine learning, highlighting EGFR, FGFR3, CDKN2A, KRAS, and STK11 mutations.

AZD8205 (ADC) showed manageable safety and initial efficacy in advanced solid tumors, with 9 partial responses in heavily pretreated patients (ovarian, breast, endometrial cancer). Common adverse effects were neutropenia, anemia, and decreased white blood cell count, managed with dose adjustments.

Pembrolizumab plus chemoradiotherapy significantly improved OS for women with high-risk locally advanced cervical cancer, making it the new standard of care.

R.A.S., M.S.T., C.Y., R.N., H.S.R., M.D., A.J.C., E.S.-R., J.C.B., C.O., K.K., A.D.E., C.V., N.W., K.S.A., A.S.C., C.F., C.I., A.T., J.T., K.Y., L.H., K.G., F.M.H., T.S., A.L.A., P.B., P.N., G.L.H., W.F.S., J.P., P.P., A.D.M., D.Y., L.J.v.V., N.M.H., L.J.E. report various institutional research funding, advisory roles, consultancy, honoraria, patents, and stock ownership.

Dylan Weil '15, a scientist at AstraZeneca, credits RIT's biotechnology program for his success in developing drug potency assays for cancer immunotherapies. He highlights RIT's focus on industry preparation, advanced lab courses, and research opportunities, which shaped his career in immunology and vaccine research. Dylan's internship led to a full-time job in pharmaceutical research, and he later pursued an MS in biotechnology, integrating bioinformatics into his work at AstraZeneca. He advises RIT students to leverage experiential learning and develop diverse skills, including data science and liberal arts, for a successful career in biotechnology.

Various researchers report financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies, including Deciphera, during and outside the conduct of the study.

Experts at the Patient-Centered Oncology Care meeting discussed the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and Enhancing Oncology Model (EOM) on cancer care, focusing on access, innovation, and value. The IRA's shortened exclusivity periods for small molecules and changes in benefit design were highlighted, along with concerns about formulary management and drug shortages. The EOM's shift in Medicare's share of total costs and its potential to exacerbate disparities were also debated, with calls for redefining value in oncology to better support high-cost, high-value therapies.

AstraZeneca Korea launched Truqap, the first AKT inhibitor for HR+/HER2- breast cancer, targeting PIK3CA, AKT1, or PTEN mutations. Truqap, approved in April, offers new hope for patients progressing after endocrine therapy. The CAPItello-291 study showed Truqap plus fulvestrant doubled median progression-free survival to 7.3 months. Despite financial concerns over NGS costs, global guidelines recommend mutation testing for effective treatment.

Post-hoc analysis in DESTINY-Breast12 showed CNS ORR of 82.6% in patients without prior CNS therapy and 50.0% in those with prior therapy. Safety profiles of Enhertu were consistent with previous trials, with no new concerns. ILD/pneumonitis rates were 12.9% and 16.0% in patients without and with brain metastases, respectively, with most events being low grade.