Articles

San Francisco, CA—Treatment with the novel agent MK-6482 led to promising results in a phase 1/2 clinical trial of patients with metastatic clear-cell renal-cell carcinoma (RCC).

Of the approximately 18,000 individuals who are diagnosed annually in the United States with biliary cancer, an estimated 8000 are diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), and the 5-year survival rate is less than 20%. CCA is often diagnosed at advanced stages when treatment is only minimally effective.

Researchers and clinical investigators are facing a series of unprecedented challenges as they adjust to necessary changes to their work environment resulting from the COVID-19 crisis. In this discussion, moderated by Rob Butcher, CEO, Swim Across America, a panel of researchers discuss the impact of the pandemic on conditions in laboratories, and how graduate students have had to adjust to interruptions in their career trajectories.

Telehealth continues to play a critical role in providing healthcare services to patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a webcast titled COVID-19: Impact on Telehealth, Rick Lee, Executive Chairman, Healthy Platforms and CancerLife, along with a panel of experts, discussed the benefits and ongoing challenges associated with the use of telemedicine and the far-reaching impact of this technology beyond the current crisis.

Employers continue to face significant challenges as they strive to provide healthcare coverage for their employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this discussion, moderated by Burt Zweigenhaft, PhD, D.Litt, a panel of experts explore solutions for some of the issues arising in a vastly changed healthcare market, and strategies for improving the way in which health benefits are conceived and implemented.

On May 15, 2020, the FDA approved a new indication for the first immunotherapy combination with the PD-1 inhibitor nivolumab (Opdivo; BMS) and the CTLA-4 inhibitor ipilimumab (Yervoy; BMS) as first-line treatment of adults with metastatic non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and PD-L1 expression of ≥1%, as determined by an FDA-approved test, but without EGFR or ALK genomic alterations.

On May 6, 2020, the FDA accelerated the approval of oral capmatinib (Tabrecta; Novartis), a kinase inhibitor, for the treatment of adults with metastatic non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Capmatinib is the first agent approved by the FDA for metastatic NSCLC with mutations that lead to MET exon 14 skipping, as determined by the FoundationOne CDx assay, which is approved as a companion diagnostic for capmatinib.

On May 8, 2020, the FDA approved selpercatinib (Retevmo; Loxo Oncology) capsules for the treatment of 3 types of cancer associated with RET gene mutations or fusions, including (1) metastatic non–small-cell lung cancer, (2) metastatic medullary thyroid cancer, and (3) other types of thyroid cancers. Selpercatinib is the first therapy approved for patients with cancer that is linked to RET mutations.

Pharmaceutical support and innovation are vital to the effective treatment of patients with cancer. In this discussion, moderated by Burt Zweigenhaft, PhD, D.Litt, a panel of experts discussed the importance of maintaining an adequate supply of medicines for patients, and the need for philanthropic programs to ensure patients will be able to continue their medications, even if they lose their health insurance.

In this discussion, moderated by Niesha Griffith, RPh, MS, FASHP, CPO (interim), a panel of oncology pharmacists discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their practices, the increase in the use of new technologies as a result of recent events, and how the influx of patients expected in the coming weeks will affect their daily operations.