Issue 8 – The Cancer Letter

Guest Editorial
Lung-MAP: A five-year recap on the first master protocol trial in cancer research
When the Lung-MAP trial was launched in June 2014, the goal was simple: Make drug development faster and more collaborative—and do it for lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer death in the United States.
Trump grants clemency to Michael Milken, financier whose ideas brought new money & swagger into cancer politics, research
Explaining his decision to grant clemency to the financier Michael Milken, President Trump spoke thus:
“We have Mike Milken, who’s gone around and done an incredible job for the world, with all of his research on cancer, and he’s done this, and he suffered greatly. He paid a big price; paid a very tough price. But he’s done an incredible job.”
Looking Back
25 years ago: Here is The Cancer Letter’s coverage of Michael Milken’s 1995 cancer summit
This story begins our occasional series looking back at the history of oncology since the signing of the National Cancer Act of 1971. The Cancer Letter was founded in 1973.
Coalition of cancer groups urges Congress to include clinical trial-related coverage under Medicaid
A coalition of over 100 cancer groups is urging Congress to include the Clinical Treatment Act (HR-913) in an upcoming health care extenders package, scheduled to be considered this spring.
In Brief
- Pamela Kunz named leader of GI Cancers Program at Yale
- Jennifer Carlson named chair of NCCN’s newly formed Government Affairs committee
- Twelve medical centers form brain tumor research collaborative
- ASCO: Drug repository programs address high costs, access and waste issues when appropriately implemented
Funding Opportunities
DOD Lung Cancer Research Program to announce funding opportunities for FY20
The FY20 Defense Appropriations Act provides funding to the Department of Defense Lung Cancer Research Program to support innovative, high-impact lung cancer research.
Trials & Tribulations
Lung cancer: Significant progress leads to record annual decrease in cancer mortality
We were recently presented with the new report from American Cancer Society¹ showing the biggest annual decrease in cancer mortality, which was mainly due to decline in smoking, as well as improvements in early detection and treatment.
Clinical Roundup
- Updated CheckMate -025 results demonstrate superior OS, ORR for Opdivo in RCC
- Relapse common in weight-loss surgery patients who quit smoking
Drugs & Targets
- FDA grants capmatinib priority review in NSCLC indication
- FDA grants Breakthrough Therapy Designation for Astellas’ and Seattle Genetics’ agent Padcev in bladder cancer indication
- FDA accepts Valoctocogene Roxaparvovec for Priority Review