A collection of recently published news items.

  • Eli Lilly and Company received FDA approval for ramucirumab (Cyramza) in combination with FOLFIRI chemotherapy for the treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer whose disease progresses on or after therapy with bevacizumab (Avastin; Genentech/Roche), oxaliplatin, and a fluoropyrimidine. Ramucirumab blocks VEGFR2.

  • Summit, NJ–based Celgene inked a $450 million deal with AstraZeneca to develop the PD-L1 inhibitor MEDI4736 for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and other related malignancies. AstraZeneca will also pay $250 million to France's Innate Pharma to license the immunotherapeutic IPH2201 both as a monotherapy and in combination with MEDI4736.

  • In a survey of 7,000 people, 98% said that they want to be informed if researchers using their genetic data stumble upon indicators of a life-threatening disease that could be prevented or treated. Fewer people were interested in knowing about less serious conditions or genetic data of “uncertain clinical significance” (Eur J Hum Genet 2015 Apr 29 [Epub ahead of print]).

  • Roche signed a deal worth up to $555 million with India's Curadev Pharma to develop cancer immunotherapies that target IDO1 and TDO. Roche will pay Curadev $25 million initially, with an additional $530 million if Curadev meets certain milestones.

  • A Canadian study indicates that vaccinating 12-year-old boys against human papillomavirus (HPV) may be a cost-effective strategy for preventing oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer, potentially saving up to C$28 million over the boys' lifetimes. Many countries have established HPV vaccination programs for girls but not for boys (Cancer 2015 Apr 13 [Epub ahead of print]).

  • In a study of 396 patients, men with castration-resistant prostate cancer who received enzalutamide (Xtandi) experienced a statistically significant increase in progression-free survival compared with those who received bicalutamide, Astellas Pharma announced. Median PFS was 19.4 months in the enzalutamide group compared with 5.7 months in the bicalutamide group.

For more news on cancer research, visit Cancer Discovery online at http://CDnews.aacrjournals.org.

©2015 American Association for Cancer Research.
2015