Distant metastasis-free survival, a secondary endpoint, was also significantly improved versus placebo (HR=0.76 [95.8% CI: 0.64-0.92; p=0.002]) and had five-year DMFS rates of 48.3% and 38.9% in the Yervoy and placebo groups, respectively.
Genentech said its pivotal phase III OAK study of Tecentriq (atezolizumab) showed a median survival of 13.8 months, 4.2 months longer than those treated with docetaxel chemotherapy (median overall survival [OS]: 13.8 vs. 9.6 months; HR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.62 - 0.87).
Nancy Davidson was named executive director of the Fred Hutchinson/University of Washington Cancer Consortium effective Dec. 1. For nearly eight years, Davidson has served as director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute.
Kudos to The Cancer Letter's report on the 803 PD-1 or PD-L1 trials. As Rick Pazdur noted, that is just too many resources chasing the same idea for adult cancer studies.
The NCI Bypass Budget was expected to be made public on Oct. 6.
Question 1: Is there a reason to believe that these drugs are different from each other?Abrams & Sharon: From our estimate, there are more than 700 trials on ClinicalTrials.gov, with the bulk of those trials (approximately 700) involving agents from the five leading PD-1/PD-L1 companies (Merck, BMS, AZ, Genentech, and EMD Serono/Pfizer). There are obviously some subtle differences in terms of agents that target PD-1 versus PD-L1, but by and large, if there is efficacy with one agent seen, then we have generally seen a similar range of efficacy with the other agents.
Pharmaceutical companies are betting big on cancer immunotherapies that rely on the PD-1 protein and its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, to initiate an immune response.
NCI has suspended re-competition of the the $400 million-a-year operations and technical support contract for the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research.
A continuing resolution passed Congress passed Sept. 28 will avoid a government shutdown and fund federal agencies through Dec. 9.
Paul Jacobsen was named associate director of the NCI Division of Cancer Control and Population Science Healthcare Delivery Research Program. Jacobsen says he hopes his joining the institute signals to the scientific community the strength of the institute's commitment to healthcare delivery research.
