December 2022, Vol 13, No 6

Two weeks after the initial approval of tremelimumab (Imjudo; AstraZeneca), a CTLA-4 monoclonal antibody, on November 10, 2022, the FDA approved this new immunotherapy, in combination with the PD-L1 inhibitor durvalumab (Imfinzi; AstraZeneca) and platinum-based chemotherapy, for the treatment of adults with metastatic non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and no EGFR or ALK genomic alterations.

On November 10, 2022, the FDA approved brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris; Seagen) in combination with a chemotherapy regimen of doxorubicin, vincristine, etoposide, prednisone, and cyclophosphamide (AVEPC) for treatment-naïve pediatric patients aged ≥2 years with high-risk classical Hodgkin lymphoma. This is the first indication for brentuximab vedotin for pediatric patients. Brentuximab vedotin has an orphan drug designation for Hodgkin lymphoma.

Results from a new study found that radiation oncologists tend to discuss sexual side effects in women undergoing treatment for cervical cancer far less frequently than they discuss sexual side effects in men undergoing treatment for prostate cancer. These findings were presented at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting 2022 by the study’s lead investigator Jamie Takayesu, MD, Radiation Oncology Resident, University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center, Ann Arbor.

The treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has entered a new era, with the use of more potent therapies, such as targeted agents and venetoclax (Venclexta). The advent of these newer therapies raises important issues that are yet to be clarified, said Daniel A. Pollyea, MD, MS, Clinical Director, Leukemia Services; Robert H Allen, MD Chair in Hematology Research; and Professor, Hematology, University of Colorado Blood Disorders and Cell Therapies Center, Anschutz, during a session on evolving concepts and management strategies for AML at the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) 2022 Annual Congress: Hematologic Malignancies.

A survey of US physicians who prescribe biologics to their patients revealed that 92% were confident in the safety and efficacy of biosimilars, 89% would prescribe a biosimilar to a new patient, and 80% were comfortable initiating the switching of patients who are stable on their current biologic medication to a biosimilar. However, the majority of respondents indicated that they were not comfortable with third-party substitution for nonmedical reasons, and felt that they, along with their patients, should have control over treatment choice. Results of this survey were discussed by Ralph McKibbin, MD, FACP, FACG, AGAF, Chairman of the Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines, in a poster presentation during the Drug Information Association 2022 Global Annual Meeting.