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Saturday 20 April 2019
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Topic: Oncology

April 12, 2019
Janssen announces first two data centres to join HONEUR collaborative network
Improving results for patients by realising the transformational potential of Real World Data
HONEUR (Haematology Outcomes Network in Europe) is a Janssen-led initiative and part of the company’s overall commitment to creating better outcomes for patients – in this case, by harnessing the full potential of Real World Data and the insights it can provide. 
 
April 10, 2019
ESMO drives EU-level action to tackle shortages of essential medicines
In oncology, in particular, where there are often no alternatives to these medicines, shortages pose a threat to patient safety as they reduce adherence to therapy and limit the ability of physicians to provide effective treatment regimens

Shortages of essential cancer medicines have a direct impact on patient care across Europe.

To ensure that this issue remains a top priority on the EU policy agenda, ESMO collaborated with the European Parliament to organise a cross-partisan event entitled “Shortages of Inexpensive, Essential Medicines: Calling for Tangible Political Commitments in the EU”.1

April 10, 2019
Lynparza approved in EU for germline BRCA-mutated HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer
First PARP inhibitor approved in the EU for patients with this difficult-to-treat disease and third EU approval for Lynparza

The European Commission has approved Lynparza (olaparib) as a monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with germline BRCA1/2-mutations (gBRCAm), and who have human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative locally-advanced or metastatic breast cancer.

April 5, 2019
New treatment combination available first-line to treat advanced kidney cancer
Immediate first-line access to this combination could be a treatment option for up to 1700 advanced kidney cancer patients in England
Bristol-Myers Squibb has announced that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued a Final Appraisal Determination (FAD) recommending the combination of Opdivo® (nivolumab) plus Yervoy® (ipilimumab) to treat NHS patients in England with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). 
 
March 28, 2019
Cancer Research UK, LifeArc and Ono Pharma form cancer therapy alliance
New immunotherapy drug targets for cancer will be progressed through a multimillion-pound drug discovery alliance between Cancer Research UK, LifeArc and Ono Pharmaceutical Co Ltd
A multi-year partnership brings together Cancer Research UK’s network of world-leading scientists and drug discovery expertise, LifeArc’s renowned therapeutic antibody engineering and development expertise, and Ono’s considerable track record in developing cancer immunotherapies.
 
March 20, 2019
Groundbreaking pancreatic cancer trial reaches patient milestone
Precision-Panc seeks to uncover the molecular profile of individual patients with pancreatic cancer, to learn more about the disease and to pave the way for patients entering clinical trials in a way that matches their tumour biology to the type of treatment

A groundbreaking pancreatic cancer trial, which aims to match patients with more targeted and effective treatment for their tumours, has successfully recruited its 100th patient.

Run by Precision-Panc, a research programme and clinical trials project led by the University of Glasgow with major funding from Cancer Research UK, the trial brings a precision medicine approach to pancreatic cancer treatment for the first time in the UK.

March 18, 2019
Expert analysis: Calling attention to colorectal cancer
Professor Evelien Dekker discusses the rising burden of colorectal cancer in Europe and the need for consistent and successful screening programmes across the continent
Colorectal cancer is Europe’s second biggest cancer killer, claiming the lives of nearly 200,000 people across the continent each year. Current trends predict that the burden of colorectal cancer could increase by 12% by 2020, affecting 502,000 Europeans a year by 2020.1
 
March 7, 2019
Report exposes deficiencies in the cleanliness and working conditions of oncology units
A report commissioned by the European Biosafety Network was launched at a roundtable on preventing exposure to hazardous drugs in healthcare, held in the European Parliament in Brussels attended by MEPs, unions, employers, professional associations, representatives of Member States and the European Commission
A report commissioned by the European Biosafety Network has shed light on conditions in hospitals across the EU which are endangering the lives of nurses and pharmacists, other hospital staff, carers and patients.
 
The report was launched on 7 March at a roundtable on preventing exposure to hazardous drugs in healthcare, held in the European Parliament in Brussels attended by MEPs, unions, employers, professional associations, representatives of Member States and the European Commission. 
 
March 4, 2019
Biosimilar pegfilgrastim launched in the UK
Napp Pharmaceuticals' Pelmeg, a pegfilgrastim biosimilar, has been launched in the UK following its European Commission approval in November 2018
Napp Pharmaceuticals has announced the UK launch of Pelmeg®, a biosimilar of pegfilgrastim, following European Commission (EC) approval in November 2018.  
 
February 18, 2019
More needs to be done to raise awareness of lung cancer risk in people with COPD
People with COPD need more support when understanding and acting on new chest symptoms, a study in the journal Psycho-Oncology reports

During a unique study, led by the University of Glasgow and University of Surrey, researchers have investigated how the experience of COPD influences how individuals understand new or changing chest symptoms and their decision to seek help from medical professionals. 

January 21, 2019
NICE recommends Verzenios with an aromatase inhibitor to treat metastatic breast cancer
The National Institute of health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended Verzenios (abemaciclib) in combination with an aromatase inhibitor (AI) to treat metastatic breast cancer

The National Institute of health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended Verzenios (abemaciclib) in combination with an aromatase inhibitor (AI) to treat metastatic breast cancer.

Eli Lilly and Company announced on 18 January that the drug is recommended by NICE within its marketing authorisation as an option for treating locally advanced or metastatic, hormone receptor- positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer as first endocrine-based therapy in adults.

January 17, 2019
New treatment for prostate cancer receives European licence
Erleada™ (apalutamide) offers a new treatment option for men with non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who are at high risk of metastatic disease
Janssen has announced that the European Commission (EC) has licensed Erleada (apalutamide), for the treatment of men with non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) who are at high risk of developing metastatic disease.
 
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK,1 resulting in over 47,000 diagnoses each year, or 129 each day.2
 
December 13, 2018
The role of NGS in myeloid leukaemia: Part 1
The role of NGS in myeloid neoplasms with a focus on the broad utility of variants and a brief introduction to blood disorders, NGS and the considerations for testing clonal myeloid malignancies is discussed
Myeloid malignancies are complex clonal diseases arising in haematopoietic stem or progenitor cells. These heterogenous disorders comprise many different subtypes such as myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasms (MDS/MPN) and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML).
 
December 10, 2018
Inflammatory bowel disease linked to prostate cancer
Men with inflamed guts are four to five times at risk for prostate cancer and are in need of more careful screening
Men with inflammatory bowel disease have four to five times higher risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer, reports a 20-year study from Northwestern Medicine.
 
This is the first report to show men with inflammatory bowel disease have higher than average PSA (prostate-specific antigen) values, and this group also has a significantly higher risk of potentially dangerous prostate cancer.
 
December 10, 2018
Realising the full potential of functional genomics
The Joint Cancer Research UK - AstraZeneca Functional Genomics Centre will be a dedicated world-class resource for AstraZeneca and Cancer Research UK’s academics and alliance partners working at all stages of translational research, from target discovery and validation, to assessing novel drug combinations
Cancer Research UK and AstraZeneca have announced that they are opening a new centre in the UK, dedicated to realising the full potential of functional genomics in the discovery and development of new drugs for patients with cancer.
 
This partnership will explore in more detail the function and interaction of genes and proteins in cancer, and apply new genome-altering technologies such as CRISPR, to create sophisticated models of the disease for research.
 
December 7, 2018
Development of new companion diagnostic to guide treatment in advanced breast cancer
Novartis's BYL719 is in late-stage development, and Qiagen expects to provide its companion diagnostic to clinical laboratory partners who will then be ready to offer immediate access to the test upon potential regulatory approvals

Qiagen has announced that a clinical development programme is underway with Novartis to bring to market a molecular test as a companion diagnostic to guide the use of the investigational compound BYL719 (alpelisib) in combination with fulvestrant for men and postmenopausal women living with PIK3CA mutated hormone receptor positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 negative (HR+/HER2-) advanced or metastatic breast cancer.

December 6, 2018
New cancer drugs taking longer for NHS patients to access
Delays in taking new cancer drugs through clinical trials and getting them approved for use mean NHS patients are waiting longer to access them, a report by the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) finds.

NHS patients are waiting longer for new cancer drugs because of delays in taking them through clinical trials and getting them approved for use, a new report has revealed.

The average time from when a cancer drug is patented to approval by NICE increased from 12.7 years between 2000-08 to 14.1 years between 2009-16, The Institute of Cancer Research, London (ICR) found.

December 3, 2018
New study has confirmed the effectiveness of PSA screening in reducing prostate cancer mortality
The study recommends active surveillance to prevent over-treatment, suggesting that 36% of patients with a new diagnosis are candidates for active surveillance, 30% of whom will ultimately have treatment for progression
A new study has confirmed the effectiveness of Prostate-specific Antigen (PSA) screening in reducing prostate cancer mortality.
 
The retrospective cohort study of over 400,000 men, as published in Elsevier’s Urology® journal,1 set out to re-examine the value of PSA screening, to determine the optimal screening interval and the appropriate age groups to be screened. 
 
November 30, 2018
Altering cancer metabolism helps treatments attack tumours
Researchers exposed lung, ovarian and colon cancer cells, and mouse models, to conditions similar to those in the human body, and investigated how manipulating cell metabolism can make cancer more vulnerable to oncolytic viruses

Restricting the ability of cancer cells to metabolise sugar could make oncolytic viruses more effective at attacking them, suggests a study published in the journal Cancer Research.

Viruses that are trained to attack cancer cells – known as oncolytic viruses – can kill tumours without affecting healthy cells nearby. They normally work by invading the cells, multiplying and destroying the tumour from inside. They are currently being tested in clinical trials.

November 30, 2018
England lagging behind rest of Europe in cancer survival rates
Cancer patients in England have a poorer survival rate than patients in other European countries, according to the Health Foundation.

Cancer patients in England have a poorer survival rate than patients in other European countries, according to the Health Foundation.
 
A report by the charity looked at the progress made since the NHS Cancer Plan in 2000, which aimed to see five-year survival rates for cancer in England compare with the best in Europe by 2010.
 
Delays in diagnosis and treatment
 

November 30, 2018
England lagging behind rest of Europe in cancer survival rates
Cancer patients in England have a poorer survival rate than patients in other European countries, according to the Health Foundation.

Cancer patients in England have a poorer survival rate than patients in other European countries, according to the Health Foundation.
 
A report by the charity looked at the progress made since the NHS Cancer Plan in 2000, which aimed to see five-year survival rates for cancer in England compare with the best in Europe by 2010.
 
Delays in diagnosis and treatment
 

November 29, 2018
First child cancer patients treated with new CAR-T therapy in UK
CAR-T treatment involves collecting and using a patient’s own immune cells to fight the cancer over a number of weeks.

Children with cancer at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London are this week starting a new therapy treatment tailored to target patients’ specific cancer cells.
 
The CAR-T treatment involves collecting and using a patient’s own immune cells to fight the cancer over a number of weeks. 
 
Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital is also offering the immunotherapy treatment, and Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will join next month.
 

November 29, 2018
First child cancer patients treated with new CAR-T therapy in UK
CAR-T treatment involves collecting and using a patient’s own immune cells to fight the cancer over a number of weeks.

Children with cancer at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London are this week starting a new therapy treatment tailored to target patients’ specific cancer cells.
 
The CAR-T treatment involves collecting and using a patient’s own immune cells to fight the cancer over a number of weeks. 
 
Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital is also offering the immunotherapy treatment, and Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will join next month.
 

November 29, 2018
Nanoscale blood test set to springboard cancer discoveries
The discovery could potentially accelerate early diagnosis, speed up drug discovery and lead to advancements in personalised medicines

A technique to get more information from the blood of cancer patients than previously possible has been developed.

The discovery could potentially accelerate early diagnosis, speed up drug discovery and lead to advancements in personalised medicines. The Cancer Research UK-funded study has been published in Advanced Materials.

November 29, 2018
NICE gives green light for regorafenib
In the EU, regorafenib is indicated for treatment of adult patients with advanced unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma who have been previously treated with sorafenib
Bayer has announced that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended Stivarga® (regorafenib) as an option for treating advanced unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in adults who have had Nexavar® (sorafenib) only if patientshave Child-Pugh grade A liver impairment and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1.1