Onco Actu du 12 juin 2017

	4.1 Dép., diag. & prono. - Prostate
Biomarker Test Could Reduce Unnecessary Biopsies to Detect Prostate Cancer [NCI] Implementing this pre-biopsy testing in clinical practice may not yet be practical because of the limited availability of the T2:ERG test, Dr. Srivastava said. But Dr. Sanda is hopeful that, based on the study’s findings, that may change.
	5. Traitements
'Tumor agnostic' cancer drugs seen boosting wider genetic tests [Reuters] Hyman argues that the Keytruda approval based on a single genetic defect "changed the field overnight" and will gain momentum with the likely approval of larotrectinib, which targets a defect called TRK fusions.
	5.12.3 Immunothérapies-combinaisons
A quick look at the axitinib data and IO/VEGF inhibitor combos [SugarCone Biotech] From a biology perspective, Lilly suddenly looks like an immunotherapy player in the making. Here I think is an interesting lesson, that is, follow the biology, not the molecule.
	5.12.5 Immunothérapies - Pharma
Merck cautiously steps into the PD-(L)1/CTLA-4 checkpoint fray. But should it ‘go big or go home’ instead? [EndPoints] Merck’s strategy on developing its PD-1 checkpoint drug Keytruda could be summarized as: If we have any kind of a shot at a legitimate target, we’re going to take it. Then we’ll start a combo trial ASAP.
	5.2 Pharma
Trial observers say ‘game over’ for XBiotech’s failed PhIII cancer study, the latest in a long line of setbacks [EndPoints] A few weeks after European regulators snubbed the company’s application to start marketing its dubious cancer drug Xilonix, the Austin-based biotech is back with the news that it’s halting a Phase III colon cancer study after outside experts concluded it wasn’t working.
Roche CEO still optimistic on new breast cancer drug [Reuters] The results hit Roche shares, and analysts said they increased the chance of the company's revenues suffering when its $7 billion-a-year blockbuster Herceptin, which was approved in 1998, is exposed to competition from cheaper rivals.
	5.2.1 Pharma - Partenariats
Astellas and Pfizer Announce Amendment to Clinical Research Protocol for Phase 3 PROSPER Trial of enzalutamide in Patients with Non-metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer [Astellas] Target sample size reduced to approximately 1,440 patients and estimated primary completion date is June 2017.
	5.2.3 Pharma - économie
Cancer Setback Leaves Bristol-Myers Vulnerable to Takeover [Bloomberg] In the past year, Bristol-Myers has seen $37 billion in market value wiped out after it gambled -- and lost -- on a clinical trial of Opdivo that could have made it a treatment in the lucrative market for new lung cancer patients.
	5.3 Traitements - FDA, EMA, NICE...
PRAC concludes there is no evidence of a change in known risk of neutropenic enterocolitis with docetaxel [EMA] Doctors advised to follow recommendations in current product information.
	5.4 Traitements - Economie
The New War on (Overpriced) Drugs [Wired] Pearson, with ICER, has taken it upon himself to fix this information imbalance, to generate the missing data and calculate a “fair price” for drugs.
Drug Prices: This Time Is Different [Wall Street Journal] Higher out of pocket drug expenses is a major shift in drug-pricing debate.
	5.5 ASCO
8 stars: A look back at ASCO spotlights the top cancer drugs to watch, and 1 to forget [EndPoints] I’ve been making the trek to ASCO for some years now, and I don’t recall any other week that rivals what I’ve just seen. There wasn’t just important data to report on, there was a lot of it.
	5.5.16 ASCO (médecine de précision)
Routine Molecular Screening of Advanced Refractory Cancer Patients [ESMO] In total 2676 patients were enrolled (of whom 316 ongoing); 1944 with tumour genomic profiles; 1004 (52%) with at least one actionable mutation. Sex ratio was 45%:55% (male:female). Median age range was 59 years.
	5.9.3 EHA
AbbVie Announces New Data Evaluating Venetoclax in a Variety of Hematologic Malignancies at the 22nd European Hematology Association Congress [AbbVie] VENCLYXTO monotherapy is approved in the EU for the treatment of CLL in the presence of 17p deletion or TP53 mutation in adult patients who are unsuitable for or have failed a B-cell receptor pathway inhibitor; and for the treatment of CLL in the absence of 17p deletion or TP53 mutation in adult patients who have failed both chemoimmunotherapy and a B-cell receptor pathway inhibitor.
	6.10 Politiques
UK scientists hope for softened Brexit after shock election result [Nature] Any softening of the United Kingdom’s position on Brexit is “obviously good for our chances of staying in EU funding programmes”, agrees Kieron Flanagan, a science-policy researcher at Alliance Manchester Business School, UK.
Japan government scraps proposals for drug-price cuts in policy guidelines [Reuters] The change followed deliberations on the draft by ruling party officials, including those voicing the interests of drugmakers worried about hits to revenues.
	6.10.1 Politiques (USA)
AACR Applauds Presidential Nomination of Norman (“Ned”) Sharpless, MD, as Director of the National Cancer Institute [AACR] Last night’s appointment by President Trump to select Dr. Sharpless as NCI’s next director ensures a continuity in leadership and management at the NCI that is especially needed during this historic era of unprecedented scientific opportunities that are before us.
American Cancer Society Congratulates Norman Sharpless on Appointment as NCI Director [ACS] “We also want to acknowledge the wonderful work of Douglas R. Lowy, M.D., who has been the NCI’s Acting Director since April 2015."
Norman “Ned” Sharpless named NCI director by Trump administration [The Cancer Letter] The decision to appoint Sharpless, a scientist and cancer center director, comes three days after Trump appointed Francis Collins to head NIH. Sharpless is described by colleagues as a solid, mainstream choice, which—in an optimistic interpretation—suggests continuity for the institute.
	6.11 Patients
‘How long have I got?’: Why many cancer patients don’t have answers [USA Today] In surveys, people with cancer overwhelmingly say they want doctors to be honest with them. In the real world, doctors can pay a price for honesty.
	6.4 Médico-éco
Cutting the NIH budget is bad for health and business [STAT] Every dollar in NIH funding generates an estimated $8.38 return on investment, supporting 379,000 jobs through the development of medicines and devices, surgical techniques, public health improvements, and other non-pharmaceutical applications of NIH-supported research.
	6.7.2 Applis
The Paradoxical Benefits Of A Web App For Cancer Patients [Forbes] “The next step is to see how this kind of tool can be integrated into the diversity of oncology practice types -- smaller, larger, community, academic, rural, urban. We're directly addressing this in our new national study which will begin accrual this summer,” Basch added.
	6.8 Communication
Got Cancer Questions? This Little-Known Hotline Is Here To Help [NPR] The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle runs the Contact Center, which is funded mostly by the National Cancer Institute with some support from the Veteran's Administration. Last month, the NCI awarded Fred Hutch a $24 million, three-year contract to continue operating the helpline.
	6.9 Controverses
Saying Los Angeles lacks a great cancer center, Soon-Shiong plans to open one [STAT] It turns out, though, that it’s not really Soon-Shiong’s personal project: He won’t own the clinic and in fact, has no financial interest in it. It’s all being set up by other (as-yet-unnamed) doctors.