ASCO 2015 Highlights

On October 24, 2023, the FDA approved ivosidenib (Tibsovo; Servier Pharmaceuticals), an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor, for the treatment of relapsed or refractory myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) in adults with a susceptible IDH1 mutation, as detected by an FDA-approved test.

Beware of a new model that at least one, if not more, of the BlueCross BlueShield plans are offering to their self-insured employer customers as a way to compete with the alternate funding programs that have been pushed heavily onto those same employers in recent years.

On October 13, 2023, the FDA approved a new indication for nivolumab (Opdivo; Bristol-Myers Squibb), a PD-1 inhibitor, for the adjuvant treatment of completely resected stage IIB/C melanoma in patients aged ≥12 years. The FDA granted this application an orphan drug designation.

In a session during the 13th Annual Summit of the Association for Value-Based Cancer Care, held October 18-20, 2023, in New York City, Linde Wilson, MBA, Managing Partner, HealthQuest Advisors, discussed the ongoing challenges related to the development and implementation of value-based agreements.

Madrid, Spain—Results from 3 phase 3 clinical trials demonstrated the superiority of targeted therapies over conventional chemotherapy in patients with oncogene-addicted non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including ALK-positive advanced NSCLC; EGFR exon 20 insertion-mutation–positive, newly diagnosed or advanced NSCLC; and advanced RET fusion–positive NSCLC. These findings were reported during the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress 2023.

On October 11, 2023, the FDA approved a new indication for encorafenib (Braftovi; Array BioPharma) combined with binimetinib (Mektovi; Array BioPharma) for adults with metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and a BRAF^V600E mutation, as detected by an FDA-approved test.

The 5th Annual Cholangiocarcinoma Summit, held October 19 to 21, 2023, in Scottsdale, AZ, brought together experts from around the world to discuss the latest research and clinical data pertaining to the diagnosis and treatment of patients with CCA and other biliary track cancers.

On October 20, 2023, the FDA accelerated the approval of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor entrectinib (Rozlytrek; Genentech) for the treatment of pediatric patients aged >1 month who are diagnosed with metastatic solid tumors associated with an NTRK gene fusion, as detected by an FDA-approved test, and no known acquired resistance mutation or whose disease is likely to lead to severe morbidity and has progressed after previous treatment, or patients who have no satisfactory standard therapy.

A new study has revealed some important information about the behavior of one of the most notorious forms of cancer. Pancreatic cancer, the study found, can readily turn to an alternate source of energy to survive when its primary source, the sugar molecule glucose, is in short supply.