Merck announced Thursday that it is ending a late-stage trial of its blockbuster Keytruda, anti-TIGIT antibody vibostolimab and chemotherapy in the first line treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, after a recommendation from an independent data monitoring committee. The Phase III KeyVibe-008 trial compared the anti-TIGIT, Keytruda and chemo...

Merck Halts Phase III Trial of Keytruda, Anti-TIGIT Combo in Small Cell Lung Cancer

The FDA has granted approval to vorasidenib for the treatment of patients with IDH-mutant diffuse glioma. Vorasidenib (Voranigo, formerly AG-881) has become an FDA-approved, first-in-class option for patients with IDH-mutant gliomas, marking the sixth approval for Servier across cancers with IDH mutations. This approval for the treatment of IDH-mutant diffuse...

Vorasidenib Secures FDA Approval in IDH-Mutant Diffuse Glioma

The combination therapy was well tolerated and had a safety profile consistent with pembrolizumab monotherapy, while no new safety concerns were identified. Epacadostat, a selective oral inhibitor of IDO1, added to pembrolizumab (Keytruda) therapy did not improve therapeutic effect in patients with PD-L1–high metastatic non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to data from the randomized phase 2 KEYNOTE-654-05/ECHO-305-05 study (NCT03322540) published in BMC Central.1.

Epacadostat/Pembrolizumab Does Not Improve Therapeutic Effect for mNSCLC

A high number of adverse events were reported in a late-stage trial conducted by Merck for treatment in lung cancer. Merck announced today that it would be discontinuing its late-stage trial for vibostolimab/pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy for patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC).1 The anti–PD-1 therapy was being compared with atezolizumab in combination with chemotherapy in the KeyVibe-008 trial (NCT05224141). However, patients on vibostolimab/pembrolizumab had a higher rate of adverse events (AEs) and immune-related AEs compared with the control arm, leading to its discontinuation.

Late-Stage Vibostolimab, Pembrolizumab Plus Chemotherapy Trial Discontinued Due to Adverse Events

The AFFINITY study has finished enrolling participants to evaluate the Aliya pulsed electric field system in patients with stage IV non–small cell lung cancer or lung metastases who are not candidates for surgery. About the AFFINITY Study. Trial Name: A Clinical Study of Aliya™ Pulsed Electric Fields (PEF) Delivered...

AFFINITY Study Completes Enrollment for Novel Aliya PEF System in Advanced Lung Cancer

Chicago, IL

Writers represent independent, third-party users who have joined our contributor program and self-verified their accounts. Writers are expected, like all users, to adhere to our Community Standards.

writer

Foodie in Chicago

Shortly before 3 AM, people in the Chicago area may have felt their houses shake as a 3.4-magnitude earthquake occurred about 60 miles west of the city. (CHICAGO) The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported a 3.4-magnitude earthquake around Somonauk, IL. Somonauk is in DeKalb and LaSalle Counties, 64 miles west of Chicago.

Did You Feel the Earthquake?

A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial done performed in the the United Kingdom June 2014 to October 2017), enrolled 207 adult patients with symptomatic, radiographic KOA and knee pain (severity ≥4 out of 10) on most days in the past 3 months, after an inadequate response to analgesic medications.

Pain Reduction with Methotrexate in Knee Osteoarthritis

Reuters

(Reuters) -The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the use of Novartis' drug to reduce excess protein in the urine of patients with a type of kidney disease, the health regulator's website showed on Wednesday.

US FDA approves Novartis' kidney disease drug

Offering patients with concussion a type of brain scan known as diffusion tensor imaging MRI could help identify the one in three people who will experience persistent symptoms that can be life changing, say Cambridge researchers. Around one in 200 people in Europe every year will suffer concussion. In the...

One-Third of Concussion Patients Diagnosed With "Hidden Disease" Using Advanced MRI

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a type of cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow. It can progress slowly and may not cause many symptoms. Although it is treatable, it’s not considered to be curable. In the early stages, CLL often doesn't require treatment immediately, as studies have...

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL): When to Treat Cancer or Hold Off

In the last 6 months prior to PDAC diagnosis, visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue decreased by 12.9% and 14.7%, respectively. LDL, total cholesterol and triglycerides also decreased before diagnosis. In the 36 months prior to diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, researchers observed “predominant changes” in patients’ body composition and biochemical...

Body fat, metabolic changes before pancreatic cancer diagnosis may aid in early detection

The investigational therapy for heart failure (HF) with mildly reduced or preserved injection fraction met its primary end point in the phase 3 trial, Bayer announced. Patients with heart failure with mildly reduced or preserved injection fraction who received finerenone (Kerendia) experienced a statistically significant reduction in a composite end point of cardiovascular death and total heart failure events in the phase 3 FINEARTS-HF trial (NCT04435626), Bayer announced in a press release.1.

Finerenone Reduces Cardiovascular Death, HF Events in FINEARTS-HF Trial

Community Voices represent independent, third-party users who have joined our contributor program but not yet verified their accounts. Community Voices are expected, like all users, to adhere to our Community Standards.

community_voice

The Lens

This year’s area of low oxygen in the Gulf of Mexico is larger than average, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced on Thursday. The “dead zone” is approximately 6,705 square miles , as measured last week. Within NOAA’s 38 years of measuring the dead zone, this year’s assessment marks the 12th-largest area of low to no oxygen, which can kill fish and marine life.

Gulf ‘dead zone’ larger than average, larger than expected for 2024, scientists announce

Researchers have demonstrated that adding metastasis-directed radiation therapy to standard-of-care chemotherapy may improve progression-free survival in patients with oligometastatic pancreatic cancer, according to a recent study published by Ludmir et al in the Journal of Clinical Oncology and previously presented at the 2024 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium (Abstract 603). Background.

Metastasis-Directed Radiation Therapy Plus Chemotherapy in Oligometastatic Pancreatic Cancer

The FDA cleared the SeCore CDx HLA A Sequencing System as a companion diagnostic for afamitresgene autoleucel in advanced synovial sarcoma. The FDA has granted 510(k) clearance to the SeCore™ CDx HLA A Sequencing System for use as a companion diagnostic for afamitresgene autoleucel (afami-cel; Tecelra) in select adult patients with unresectable or metastatic synovial sarcoma.1.

FDA Clears Companion Diagnostic for Afami-Cel in Pretreated Metastatic Synovial Sarcoma

Colorado State

Contributors represent independent, third-party users who have joined our contributor program and self-verified their accounts. They have also demonstrated their experience writing hard news for other outlets. Contributors are expected, like all users, to adhere to our Community Standards.

contributor

David Heitz

A bill quietly introduced this spring in the Colorado legislature to decriminalize the possession of drug paraphernalia obtained by harm reductionists has become law. As low-key as the legislation was introduced, the bill was signed into law without fanfare June 6. It garnered little to no media attention.

Colorado legalizes needles, pipes for meth and crack if obtained by harm reduction group

Tennessee State

John M. Dabbs

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) has issued a health alert to clinicians statewide following reports of severe acute illnesses and adverse effects of consuming Diamond Shruumz™ brand chocolate bars, cones, and gummies. The warning comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received reports of serious health issues linked to these mushroom-containing edible products.

Tennessee Health Alert: Severe Illnesses Linked to Diamond Shruumz™ Products

Health

Medically reviewed by Gagandeep Brar, MDMedically reviewed by Gagandeep Brar, MDLeukemia and lymphoma are two common types of blood cancers. Leukemia affects the white blood cells (WBCs) that fight infection, while lymphoma develops in the lymphatic system and also affects certain white blood cells. Leukemia causes cancer cells to circulate in the bloodstream, and lymphoma causes cancer cells to bind together and form tumors. Symptoms of both cancers are very similar, but key differences include who is affected and how these conditions are diagnosed.Symptoms of Leukemia and LymphomaSymptoms of leukemia and lymphoma tend to look very similar. Generally, both conditions affect...

What's the Difference Between Leukemia and Lymphoma?

Medically reviewed by Archana Sharma, DOMedically reviewed by Archana Sharma, DOCancer becomes metastatic when it grows and spreads from where it originally started to another part of the body. Metastatic lung cancer develops primarily in the lungs and later spreads to distant organs and tissues. It can also be referred to as advanced lung cancer or end-stage lung cancer due to the severity of symptoms and higher risk of serious complications.Lung cancer metastasis (spread) usually doesn’t occur in the early stage of the disease. However, depending on the type of lung cancer you have, cancer cells may grow and spread...

Metastatic Lung Cancer

NCCN guidelines have been updated to recommend imetelstat to treat symptomatic anemia in patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has updated its clinical practice guidelines in oncology to now recommend imetelstat (Rytelo) as a Category 1 and 2A treatment for symptomatic anemia in patients with lower-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS).1.

Updated NCCN Guidelines Recommend Imetelstat to Treat Anemia in Lower-Risk MDS

NewsBreak

Phase 3 KeyVibe-008 Study in SCLC to Stop Due to Futility

KeyVibe-008, a phase 3 study investigating the combination of vibostolimab and pembrolizumab in small cell lung cancer, did not show an improvement in overall survival. The...

Phase 3 KeyVibe-008 Study in SCLC to Stop Due to Futility

Comments / 0