FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy designation to PKC412 (midostaurin), an investigational treatment for adults with newly-diagnosed AML who are FLT3 mutation-positive, as detected by an FDA-approved test, and who are eligible to receive standard induction and consolidation chemotherapy. The designation is primarily based upon results from the phase III RATIFY clinical trial. This study was conducted... […]
FDA approved Afinitor (everolimus), sponsored by Novartis, for the treatment of adult patients with progressive, well-differentiated non-functional, neuroendocrine tumors of gastrointestinal or lung origin with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic disease. The approval was based on demonstration of improvement in progression-free survival in a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of everolimus 10 mg orally once daily... […]
BHARAT AGGARWAL, a former researcher at MD Anderson Cancer Center, has had seven papers retracted from Biochemical Pharmacology, according to Retraction Watch. The papers, of which he is the only common author, have been cited over 500 times. According to an MD Anderson statement to Retraction Watch, Aggarwal retired from the institution Dec. 31, 2015.... […]
FDA approved Gazyva (obinutuzumab) plus bendamustine chemotherapy followed by Gazyva alone as a new treatment for people with follicular lymphoma who did not respond to a Rituxan (rituximab)-containing regimen, or whose follicular lymphoma returned after such treatment.
ROBERT KORNGOLD was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Korngold is chief of the division of research at the John Theurer Cancer Center and chairman of the department of research at Hackensack University Medical Center. The award, presented at the society’s 2016 BMT Tandem Meetings in Honolulu,... […]
LAURIE GLIMCHER was named president and CEO of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
STEVE LIMENTANI was named vice president and medical director of Mission Cancer Services as well as chief research officer of Mission Health. Limentani is a clinical professor at the University of North Carolina. In 1995, Limentani moved to Carolinas Healthcare System and became medical director for clinical trials. One of the highlights of his tenure... […]
MANDI PRATT-CHAPMAN was named the associate center director for patient centered initiatives and health equity at the GW Cancer Center. Pratt-Chapman will serve on the senior leadership team for the center, helping to create a patient support services program, which will build on programs that she developed during the past several years as director of... […]
ROBERT CALIFF was appointed commissioner of the FDA, following a successful confirmation vote in the Senate. Califf has served as deputy commissioner for medical products and tobacco since January 2015. Califf was nominated for the post by President Barack Obama in September 2015. Since then, his confirmation has been opposed and blocked by a handful... […]
THE BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION expanded its research program with a new collaborative breast cancer funding model, the BCRF Investigator-Initiated Drug Research Program. The received a three-year, $15 million grant from Pfizer to support this effort, as well as access to Pfizer’s portfolio of products. “It will encourage more creative, academic-driven research and give more... […]
