FDA Approves Pembrolizumab as Adjuvant Treatment for NSCLC

On January 26, 2023, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved pembrolizumab for adjuvant treatment following resection and platinum-based chemotherapy for stage IB (T2a ≥4 cm), II, or IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

For more information read the FDA announcement and the Merck announcement. 

Posted 1/27/2023

FDA Approves Zanubrutinib for CLL or SLL

On January 19, 2023, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved zanubrutinib for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL).

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

Posted 1/20/2023

FDA Approves FoundationOne®Liquid CDx as a Companion Diagnostic for Entrectinib

Foundation Medicine, Inc. announced that it received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the use of FoundationOne®Liquid CDx as a companion diagnostic to identify patients with ROS1-positive non-small cell lung cancer or patients with NTRK fusion-positive solid tumors, who do not have a tissue sample available and may be appropriate for treatment with entrectinib. 

For more information, read the Foundation Medicine announcement. 

Posted 1/5/2023

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 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 Olutasidenib for Relapsed or Refractory AML with a Susceptible IDH1 Mutation

On December 1, 2022, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved olutasidenib capsules for adult patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with a susceptible IDH1 mutation as detected by an FDA-approved test. 

For more information read the FDA announcement and the Rigel announcement.

Posted 12/2/2022

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

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

FDA Approves Tremelimumab in Combination with Durvalumab for Unresectable HCC

On October 21, 2022, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved tremelimumab in combination with durvalumab for adult patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). 

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

Posted 10/24/2022