Oncology Newsfeed

FDA Approves Pafolacianine for Lung Cancer Surgery

On December 16, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the targeted imaging agent pafolacianine for use in lung cancer surgery. This injectable diagnostic binds to cancerous tissue and glows when stimulated by near-infrared light, making it easier for surgeons to remove tumors completely while sparing healthy tissue.

For more information, read the Penn Medicine press release. 

Posted 12/19/2022

FDA Updates Capecitabine Indications and Dosing Regimens

On December 14, 2022, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved updated labeling for capecitabine under Project Renewal, an Oncology Center of Excellence initiative aimed at updating labeling information for older, commonly prescribed oncology drugs.

Capecitabine is now approved for the following new and revised indications:

• Adjuvant treatment of patients with Stage III colon cancer as a single agent or as a component of a combination chemotherapy regimen
• Perioperative treatment of adults with locally advanced rectal cancer as a component of chemoradiotherapy
• Treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic colorectal cancer as a single agent or as a component of a combination chemotherapy regimen
• Treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer as a single agent if an anthracycline- or taxane-containing chemotherapy is not indicated
• Treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer in combination with docetaxel after disease progression on prior anthracycline-containing chemotherapy
• Treatment of adults with unresectable or metastatic gastric, esophageal, or gastroesophageal junction cancer as a component of a combination chemotherapy regimen
• Treatment of adults with HER2-overexpressing metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma who have not received prior treatment for metastatic disease as a component of a combination regimen
• Adjuvant treatment of adults with pancreatic adenocarcinoma as a component of a combination chemotherapy regimen.

Additional labeling revisions include:

• The dosage regimen is revised and updated for several indications, including the option for a lower starting dose for patients with metastatic breast cancer
• Severe renal impairment is removed as a contraindication
• Information on risks from exposure to crushed tablets is added under warnings and precautions
• Additional information is provided on the use of capecitabine and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) deficiency
• Clinical pharmacology information is updated and revised
• The patient counseling information section and patient information document are updated and revised.

For more information, read the FDA announcement.

Posted 12/16/2022

FDA Grants Accelerated Approval to Adagrasib for KRAS G12C-Mutated NSCLC

On December 12, 2022, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to adagrasib, a RAS GTPase family inhibitor, for adult patients with KRAS G12C—mutated locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as determined by an FDA-approved test, who have received at least one prior systemic therapy.

For more information read the FDA announcement.  

Posted 12/13/2022

FDA Grants Approval to Atezolizumab for Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma

On December 9, 2022, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved atezolizumab for adult and pediatric patients 2 years of age and older with unresectable or metastatic alveolar soft part sarcoma.

For more information read the FDA announcement.

Posted 12/12/2022

FDA Approves a New Dosing Regimen for Asparaginase Erwinia Chrysanthemi

On November 18, 2022, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new Monday-Wednesday-Friday dosing regimen for asparaginase erwinia chrysanthemi (recombinant)-rywn. Under the new regimen, patients should receive 25 mg/m2 intramuscularly on Monday and Wednesday mornings, and 50 mg/m2 intramuscularly on Friday afternoon. 

For more information, read the FDA announcement.

Posted 11/21/2022

Roche Receives FDA Approval for VENTANA FOLR1 (FOLR1-2.1) RxDx Assay

On November 14, 2022, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the VENTANA FOLR1 (FOLR1-2.1) RxDx Assay, the first immunohistochemistry companion diagnostic test to aid in identifying epithelial ovarian cancer patients who are eligible for targeted treatment with mirvetuximab soravtansine-gynx. 

For more information, read the Roche announcement.

Posted 11/16/2022

FDA Grants Accelerated Approval to Mirvetuximab Soravtansine-gynx

On November 14, 2022, the U.S Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval to mirvetuximab soravtansine-gynx for adult patients with folate receptor alpha positive, platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer, who have received one to three prior systemic treatment regimens.

For more information, read the FDA announcement and the ImmunoGen announcement. 

Posted 11/15/22

FDA Approves Brentuximab Vedotin + Chemo for Pediatric Patients with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

On November 10, 2022, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved brentuximab vedotin in combination with doxorubicin, vincristine, etoposide, prednisone, and cyclophosphamide for pediatric patients 2 years of age and older with previously untreated high risk classical Hodgkin lymphoma. This is the first pediatric approval for brentuximab vedotin.

For more information, read the FDA announcement.

Posted 11/15/2022

FDA Approves Tremelimumab with Durvalumab + Chemotherapy for Metastatic NSCLC

On November 10, 2022, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved tremelimumab in combination with durvalumab and platinum-based chemotherapy for adult patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with no sensitizing epidermal growth factor receptor mutation or anaplastic lymphoma kinase genomic tumor aberrations.

For more information, read the FDA announcement.

Posted 11/15/2022

FDA Approves Cemiplimab + Chemotherapy for NSCLC

On November 8, 2022, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved cemiplimab-rwlc in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of adult patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with no EGFR, ALK, or ROS1 aberrations.

For more information, read the FDA Announcement and the Regeneron press release.

Posted 11/9/2022