FDA Approvals, News & Updates

The FDA expedited the approval of brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris, Seattle Genetics) for the treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma, as well as for systemic anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL), a rare non-Hodgkin lymphoma that may manifest in several parts of the body, including the lymph nodes, skin, bones, soft tissue, lungs, and liver.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the targeted therapy vemurafenib tablets (Zelboraf, Hoffmann-La Roche) for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic mela noma with the BRAF V600E gene mutation.

The FDA has issued a warning to healthcare providers against substituting breast thermography formammography in screening for breast cancer.

A new, ready-to-use (RTU) injectable formulation of the folate analog levoleucovorin (Fusilev; Spectrum Pharmaceuticals) received FDA approval.

Sunitinib (Sutent; Pfizer) is the second new option for the treatment of metastasized or unresectable locally advanced progressive pancreatic neuroendocrine cancerous tumors.