Noted

Bristol-Meyers Squibb will pay $1.85 billion to Nektar Therapeutics for rights to the experimental cancer drug NKTR-214. In the deal, Bristol will get 35% of global profits should the drug reach market, and the exclusive right to combine the drug with its PD-1 inhibitor nivolumab (Opdivo) and CTLA4 inhibitor ipilimumab (Yervoy). NKTR-214 is designed to expand cancer-fighting T cells and natural killer cells in the tumor microenvironment.

The FDA approved lutetium Lu 177 dotatate (Lutathera; Novartis, Advanced Accelerator Applications) to treat somatostatin receptor–positive gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Approval was based on results of two studies: In one trial of 229 patients, those who received the drug with octreotide had longer progression-free survival than those who received octreotide alone (65.2% vs. 10.8% at 20 months, respectively; N Engl J Med 2017;376:125–35). In another study, 16% of 360 patients treated with the drug responded.

The U.S Preventive Services Task Force recommended against ovarian cancer screening in women without symptoms who aren't at high genetic risk for the disease, concluding that screening does not save lives and may cause moderate to substantial harms. The recommendation has not changed since 2012, but now incorporates additional evidence from the UK Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening (JAMA 2018;319:588–94; Lancet 2016;387:945–56).

The FDA expanded the indication for durvalumab (Imfinzi; AstraZeneca) to include treatment of inoperable stage III non–small cell lung cancer that has not progressed after chemoradiation. It's the first approved treatment for the disease to reduce the risk of progression.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) endorsed the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) to aid in smoking cessation among smokers who won't use FDA-approved cessation products, such as nicotine gum. According to the ACS's policy statement, available at www.cancer.org, these individuals should switch to the least harmful tobacco product possible; “switching to … e-cigarettes is preferable to continuing to smoke combustible products.”

For more news on cancer research, visit Cancer Discovery online at http://cancerdiscovery.aacrjournals.org/content/early/by/section.