- In June 2023, the FDA approved the use of selumetinib (Koselugo) for treating patients with metastatic melanoma that has progressed after previous therapies. Selumetinib functions as a MEK inhibitor, targeting pathways that drive cancer cell proliferation. This approval expands the treatment options available for late-stage melanoma patients facing limited alternatives
- In May 2023, the FDA granted approval for denosumab (Prolia) to be used in the prevention of bone loss among breast cancer patients receiving aromatase inhibitors. Denosumab, a monoclonal antibody, works by blocking the RANKL protein, which is associated with bone degradation. This decision supports bone health preservation in patients undergoing hormonal cancer therapies
- In April 2023, the FDA authorized the use of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for the treatment of advanced solid tumors that have progressed despite prior therapies. Pembrolizumab is a checkpoint inhibitor that disrupts the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction, thereby enhancing the immune system's ability to target cancer cells. This broadens the clinical application of immunotherapy in resistant solid tumor cases
- In March 2022, Novartis received FDA approval for Pluvicto, a therapy for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients with PSMA-positive tumors who had already undergone hormone and chemotherapy treatments. Pluvicto offers a new avenue of treatment for patients with advanced stages of prostate cancer
- In March 2022, Australian biotech firm Imugene entered into a collaboration with MSD (Merck & Co., Inc.) to evaluate the combination of HER-Vaxx, a B-cell activating immunotherapy, with KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) in HER-2 positive gastric cancer patients. This clinical trial aims to explore the safety and efficacy of combining immunotherapies for enhanced treatment outcomes
- In June 2020, Pfizer Inc. announced that the FDA approved NYVEPRIA (pegfilgrastim-apgf), a biosimilar to Neulasta, designed to reduce the risk of infection due to febrile neutropenia in patients undergoing myelosuppressive chemotherapy for non-myeloid malignancies. This biosimilar expands access to supportive care therapies critical in cancer treatment cycles
