The U.S. Food and Drug Administration greenlit the classification of California-based biotechnology firm Genentech’s Venclexta (venetoclax) and azicitidine combination as a Breakthrough Therapy Drug.
Helsinn and MEI Discontinue AML Phase III Trial
Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), Business, Chemotherapy, Clinical Data, Clinical Trials, Data Monitoring Committee (DMC), Discontinued Clinical Trials, High-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), Histone deacetylase inhibitors, Overall Survival (OS), R&D, TherapeuticsHelsinn Group, based in Lugano, Switzerland, and MEI Pharma, with headquarters in San Diego, announced they were discontinuing their Phase III trial of pracinostat with azacytidine in acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
ASCO 2020 Highlights
American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), Analysis, Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT), CAR-T Therapy, Clinical Data, Clinical Trials, Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors, High-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), Leukemia, Metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, Non-Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer (nmCRPC), PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, R&D, Relapse/Refractory Multiple Myeloma, T-Cells, Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC)The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2020 meeting was held virtually this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and included hundreds of abstracts, posters and presentations.
Gilead to Acquire Immuno-Oncology Company Forty Seven for $4.9 Billion
Acquisitions, Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), Business, Cancer, Clinical Trials, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), High-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS), Monoclonal Antibodies, R&D, TumorsGilead Sciences Inc. is buying Forty Seven Inc. for $95.50 per share, or a deal value of $4.9 billion. The deal was unanimously approved by both companies’ boards.
Astex Pharmaceuticals and Otsuka Pharmaceutical announced that the companies’ ASCERTAIN Phase III clinical trial of cedazuridine and decitabine (ASTX727) compared to decitabine IV alone hit the study’s primary endpoints.