GLG News by Rituxan Prescribers for NHL: Lymphoma Oncologists (US)

Two Phase II trials show meanigful prolonged pFS in patients with iodine-refractory thyroid cancer who are treated with Sorafenib ( bayer/Onyx) The benefit needs to be confirmed in larger trials and need also to establish a favorable safety profile. Studies are needed for combination with other targeted...

Genesys terminated its studies of its cancer Vaccine for patients with refractory prostate cancer.  Cancer vaccine therapy remains limted to modest advantages in minimal residual diseases and in limted cases of melanoma and NHL

Genetic testing is the wave of the future to define targets for cancer therapy. EGFR, K-Ras and FLT-3 testing is just the beginning and affects the use of drugs such as Tarceva ( OSI-Genentech), Erbitux ( Imclone) , Veibitix ( Amgen) and Lasteurinib ( cephalon). The ultimate goal is to use more sophisticated...

K-Ras mutaions analysis in colorectal cancer may become a pre-requiste for use of anti-EGFR antibodies in therapy Erbitux and Vecitibix use may be relegated to less number of cases. This will benefit Avastin ( Genentech) whose mechanism of action is independent of these mutations

The FDA required Amgen to revise the label for Procrit and Aranesp so that these agents are not used until a patient's hemoglobin drops below 10 or in the setting of potentially curative therapy.

The author argues that transparency in healthcare will be an important step forward for the consumer.

Avastin improves survival in colon cancer and lung cancer and improves progression free survival in breast cancer- clinically meaningful outcomes.  Yet these gains are of relatively short duration and the cost of Avastin is significant- 50,000 to 100,000 dollars per year.

NICE has stated that the cost of several novel agents for the treatment of renal cell cancer including Sutent, Torisel, Avastin, and Nexavar exceeds the benefit when assessed by quality adjusted life years (QALY) gained from the therapies.

Avastin ( Roche/Genentech) extended time to progression when combined with Docotaxel ( Sanofi-Aventis) in patients with metastatic breast cancer as compared to Docotaxel alone, but did not prolong survival. Unlike approval by the FDA,the EMEA is more cost conscious and may be reluctant to...

Doctors can not remain in the middle between pharmaceutical companies and insurance and health plans. Reimbursement for oreal and IV drugs should be comparable , in order to avoid over-prescription of IV drugs , even if they are not as efficacious or more toxic. The patient's helath plan ( the government...