Onco Actu du 19 décembre 2018

	2. Etiologie
Indian drug inspectors seize Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder samples: source [Reuters] Drug inspectors have seized samples of Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder from a factory in northern India, an industry source said on Wednesday, following a Reuters report that the firm knew for decades that cancer-causing asbestos lurked in the product.
	3.1.1 Prévention - Tabac - e-cigs
Surgeon General releases advisory on E-cigarette epidemic among youth [HHS] “In the data sets we use, we have never seen use of any substance by America’s young people rise as rapidly as e-cigarette use is rising,” said HHS Secretary Alex Azar.
Addicted to Vaped Nicotine, Teenagers Have No Clear Path to Quitting [NY Times] “Nobody is quite sure what to do with those wanting to quit, as this is all so new,” said Ira Sachnoff, president of Peer Resource Training and Consulting in San Francisco, which trains students to educate peers about smoking and vaping. “We are all searching for quit ideas and services for this new nicotine delivery method. It is desperately needed.”
	5.10 Traitements - Essais
Lilly announces publication of analyses showing benefit of the addition of Verzenio® (abemaciclib) in multiple subgroups of patients with advanced breast cancer identified as having a more concerning prognosis [Lilly] Eli Lilly and Company today announced npj Breast Cancer published results from exploratory subgroup analyses of the MONARCH 2 and MONARCH 3 trials reinforcing the clinical benefit of Verzenio® (abemaciclib) plus endocrine therapy in the treatment of women with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) advanced or metastatic breast cancer.
	5.12 Immunothérapies
Lung Cancer Immune Microenvironment May Vary Within Tumor, Complicating TMB-Based Predictions [Genome Web] "This study cautions against the use of overly simplified immune-monitoring strategies to guide immune therapies," the authors concluded.
	5.12.1 Immunothérapies - partenariats
Pfizer taps Seattle-based Kineta in immunotherapy deal [BiopharmaDive] Pfizer has set up a research collaboration with Kineta Immuno-Oncology to develop small molecule agonists targeting an immunostimulatory pathway called RIG-I, seeking new ways to boost anti-tumor immune responses.
Lilly and Aduro Biotech Announce Research Collaboration and License Agreement to Develop Novel Immunotherapies [Lilly] As part of the agreement, Lilly will gain access to novel molecules from Aduro that are designed to inhibit the cGAS-STING pathway. The companies will collaborate to advance these molecules, as well as others from Lilly, into clinical development.
Molecular Partners agrees cancer immunotherapy deal with Amgen [Reuters] The deal, which includes $50 million upfront, is a welcome liquidity infusion for Zurich-based Molecular, which said last year it could sell more shares or seek a partner for one of its pipeline assets to replenish its coffers by 2019.
	5.12.2 Immunothérapies - CAR-T, thérapies cellulaires
Novartis, still struggling with Kymriah manufacturing, is providing some out-of-spec doses to patients who ask [FiercePharma] Liz Barrett, CEO of Novartis Oncology, said there was an issue around cell variability when treating relapsed large B-cell lymphoma that involved the number of inactive cells which has sometimes resulted in the drug being out of spec from the commercial specs.
	5.2 Pharma
Safety Signal Prompts Surface Oncology to Scale Down Lead Program [Xconomy] Surface developed SRF231 to block a protein, CD47, that is overabundant on the surface of tumors. The Phase 1 study was expected to enroll up to 48 patients who have advanced solid tumors or blood cancers.
Sophiris slides on prostate cancer data but vows to press on [FierceBiotech] The latest share crash comes after a tricky few months for Sophiris and the topsalysin program that have caused its shares to yo-yo. The biotech halted patient dosing in June after a patient death, but restarted trials a couple of months later after an investigation found that it was unrelated to the drug or administration procedure.
Sophiris Bio Provides Updates on Phase 2b Localized Prostate Cancer Trial [Sophiris] "Now that we have completed this Phase 2b study, we are focused on moving topsalysin into Phase 3 development," stated Randall E. Woods, President and CEO of Sophiris.
Second dose of Sophiris’ prostate cancer drug proves futile, shares crash [EndPoints] Topsalysin is designed to be activated only by enzymatically-active prostate specific antigen (PSA), which is overproduced in patients with prostate cancer.
Surface Oncology Resets Portfolio Priorities, Extends Cash Runway Through 2021 [Surface Oncology] During the dose escalation portion of the phase 1, two hematologic dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were seen at a lower dose (12 mg/kg) than anticipated and resolved without long-term toxicity. Surface will explore additional dose administration schedules but will not open expansion cohorts in the phase 1 study.
Surface Oncology reins back its lead program after tracking low-dose toxicity for CD47 drug [EndPoints] Surface Oncology’s lead drug — an anti-CD47 antibody — has run into some heavy turbulence, and the Cambridge, MA-based biotech is buckling up for a rough ride.
	5.2.3 Pharma - économie
Erasca picks up $42M to target biological drivers of cancer [FierceBiotech] The company’s got “multiple discovery programs” in the works that target biological drivers of cancer, but did not say which drivers, exactly, these programs are targeting. It’s kept mum on its tech and targets, but its mission and the track record of its executive chairmain, serial entrepreneur Jonathan Lim, M.D., have caught investors’ interest.
With $42M, Ex-Ignyta CEO Aims At Cancer Again With Startup, Erasca [Xconomy] Erasca appears to have even bigger ambitions. Its name is a portmanteau of “erase” and “cancer.” And Lim, in prepared remarks, said the aim of the company is to develop drugs that can cure (or “erase”) cancer, rather than keep it at bay or manage it with chronic treatment.
Pharma industry returns on R&D investment hit nine-year low [Reuters] An annual survey of the economics of pharma research and development (R&D) by the consultancy found that despite a steady flow of new medicines reaching global markets, the 12 drugmakers’ average return on their R&D fell to 1.9 percent this year, from 3.7 percent a year ago.
	5.5 ASCO
Lori J. Pierce, MD, FASTRO, FASCO, Elected ASCO President for 2020-2021 Term [ASCO] An active ASCO member since 1992, Dr. Pierce is a radiation oncologist, professor, and vice provost for Academic and Faculty Affairs at the University of Michigan.
	6.10 Politiques
Steep Funding Cuts for Australian Science Announced [The Scientist] In a statement, Universities Australia describes the cuts as “a ram raid” on research.
Canadian Government Ending Networks of Centres of Excellence Program [The Scientist] The funding future is uncertain for researchers studying topics including cancer, stem cells, and the Arctic.
	6.10.1 Politiques (USA)
Plans for NCI’s Fiscal Year 2019 Budget [NCI] For FY 2019, which began October 1, Congress provided NCI a base appropriation of $5.74 billion, which represents a $79 million increase from FY 2018, and an additional $400 million for the Cancer Moonshot.
	6.11 Patients
What my kidney cancer is teaching me about serendipity and persistence [STAT] I cannot possibly predict what comes next for me or the millions of other people with cancer trying to survive right now. What I do know is that I will contribute however I can to fighting kidney cancer and that, like the cells that threaten my life, I will persist.
	6.2 Implants mammaires
Allergan Halts Sales in Europe of Textured Breast Implants Linked to Rare Cancer [NY Times] The ruling does not affect the marketing of implants in the United States. Textured implants are used more commonly in Europe than in the United States, where smooth ones are more often recommended.
Allergan stops sales in Europe of breast implants linked to cancer [Reuters] France’s National Agency for the Safety of Medicines & Health Products (ANSM) said in a statement late Tuesday that the decision concerned Allergan’s Microcell and Biocell products. The French regulator added that it had not identified any immediate risk for the health of women carrying these implants.