ASCO 2015 Highlights

Adagrasib (MRTX849), an inhibitor of the KRAS^G12C mutation, showed promising activity as monotherapy and in combination with cetuximab (Erbitux) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) in the phase 1/2 KRYSTAL-1 trial.

Vaccination with the mRNA-1273 vaccine (Moderna) appears safe in patients with solid tumors receiving immunotherapy, chemotherapy, or chemoimmunotherapy.

Second-line therapy with trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu; T-DXd) extended progression-free survival (PFS) and improved objective response rate (ORR) versus trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla; T-DM1) in women with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, including those with stable brain metastasis at baseline, according to a subgroup analysis of a phase 3 clinical trial.

Final results from the pivotal phase 3 KEYNOTE-355 trial showed that the addition of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) to chemotherapy resulted in a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in overall survival (OS) compared with chemotherapy alone in patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) whose tumors expressed PD-L1 with a combined positive score (CPS) ≥10.

Treatment with the investigational agent mosunetuzumab (RG7828) as monotherapy induced deep remissions in patients with relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma, according to results of a recent trial presented at the ASH 2021 Annual Meeting and Exposition.

Results from 2 single-center studies presented at the ASH 2021 Annual Meeting and Exposition showed that nearly 1 in 6 patients with hematologic diseases had no or low antibody response after a second COVID-19 vaccination, but that the mRNA 1273 COVID-19 vaccine induced a strong antibody response in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

The results from 2 phase 3 clinical trials highlighted the superiority of CAR T-cell therapies over current standard of care (SOC) when used earlier in the course of treatment for patients with large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL).

Rapid adoption of FDA-approved biosimilars is feasible, measurable, and scalable—and pharmacists should lead the charge, according to data presented at the virtual 2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology Quality Care Symposium.

Many innovative therapies in oncology have made it to market recently, with a wealth of agents that are currently on the verge of FDA approval.

The success of oncology support services developed by pharmaceutical manufacturers depends on tailoring programs that meet the needs of their specific patient populations, said panelists at a roundtable discussion on patient centricity and connectivity in oncology support and HUB services.