Latest news with #targetedtherapy
The Independent
7 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
NHS green lights ‘Trojan horse' treatment that attacks cancer cells from inside
Blood cancer patients in England are set to be among the first in the world to access a pioneering "Trojan horse" treatment, health officials have announced. The targeted therapy, belantamab mafodotin, also known as Blenrep, has shown promising results in halting the progression of myeloma for nearly three times as long as current treatments, according to studies. Approximately 1,500 patients annually with multiple myeloma, an incurable bone marrow cancer, are expected to benefit from this new treatment. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) has approved Blenrep, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, for use within the NHS. NHS England has confirmed that it will be the first health system worldwide to roll out the treatment. The drug will be available to patients whose cancer has advanced or has not responded to initial treatments. Administered as an infusion every three weeks alongside other cancer drugs, this antibody drug targets and attaches to cancer cells. It has been dubbed a 'Trojan horse' treatment because it works by being taken into a cancer cell, before releasing a high concentration of a lethal molecule to destroy the cell from inside. 'Myeloma is an aggressive type of blood cancer, but we have seen a steady improvement in the outlook for patients over recent years as we have introduced new targeted therapies,' Professor Peter Johnson, NHS England's national clinical director for cancer, said. 'I am delighted that patients in England will be the first to benefit from this new treatment, which has the potential to keep cancer at bay for years longer, giving people the chance of more precious time with friends and family. 'This treatment could be life-changing for many patients and their families, and that's why it is so important that the NHS continues to secure quick access to the latest, innovative treatments like this, at affordable prices to the taxpayer.' Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at Nice, said: 'We're delighted that people in the UK will become among the first in the world to access belantamab mafodotin for this indication. 'This recommendation demonstrates our commitment to getting the best care to patients fast, while ensuring value for the taxpayer.' Trials have suggested that the treatment, in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone, delayed progression of the disease by an average of three years, compared to just over a year for patients taking commonly-used drug daratumumab along with the other treatments. Patient Paul Silvester, 60, from Sheffield, was diagnosed with myeloma in July 2023 and received treatment at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital. The first treatment he was given failed to stop his cancer from progressing so he was given belantamab mafodotin through an early access programme. 'I feel like this treatment has brought the party balloons back in the house. It has been amazing – within the first two or three weeks, after the first dose, I was in remission,' he said. 'It gives me quite a lot of confidence in the drugs and it makes me more optimistic about the future. 'I've been feeling well and I'm still quite active – that's what's important in terms of your quality of life. 'One of my daughters is graduating from university in October and it's a goal for me to be there.' Shelagh McKinlay, director of research and advocacy at blood cancer charity Myeloma UK, said: 'It's fantastic to see the UK at the forefront of myeloma treatment. 'We have been working very hard for the last year to get this treatment approved and we know it will transform the lives of thousands of people with myeloma.' Health Minister Karin Smyth said: 'This groundbreaking therapy puts the NHS at the forefront of cancer innovation. 'By harnessing cutting-edge 'trojan horse' technology, we're offering new hope to blood cancer patients across the country.'
Medscape
19-05-2025
- Health
- Medscape
ASCO 2025: Previewing Therapeutic Updates in Advanced NSCLC
Isabel Preeshagul, DO, is eagerly anticipating ASCO 2025, especially the progress being made in advanced NSCLC within the targeted therapy space. Promising developments include treatments for KRAS G12C alterations, particularly the LOXO-RAS-20001 phase 1/2 study combining olomorasib with immunotherapy, and for EGFR exon 20 insertions, where zipalertinib is showing potential after frontline therapy. In the HER2 space, new small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as zongertinib, BAY 2927088, and NVL-330 are generating excitement, especially regarding their central nervous system penetration. Beyond targeted therapies, there's strong interest in antibody-drug conjugates, notably the TROPION-Lung02 study evaluating datopotamab deruxtecan in combination with pembrolizumab and chemotherapy.
CBS News
09-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Dad able to look to future after biomarker testing, targeted drug therapy treat his Stage 4 cancer
Dad of 2 able to look to the future after targeted drug therapy treats Stage 4 lung cancer Dad of 2 able to look to the future after targeted drug therapy treats Stage 4 lung cancer Dad of 2 able to look to the future after targeted drug therapy treats Stage 4 lung cancer These days, Michael Hu is able to look to the future thanks to advances in lung cancer research and treatment. Three years ago, it was a different story. The father of two was 43 years old with a vibrant life and family when he felt something was wrong. "Just really sharp pain in my side. I couldn't take a regular breath in without it hurting," he said. A trip to the emergency room led to a series of tests and a startling discovery. "They found lesions in the background of my liver and eventually in other parts of my body," Hu said. It was Stage 4 cancer — the most advanced stage of the disease — in his liver, lungs, pancreas, bones and brain. It was later determined to be lung cancer, though Hu isn't a smoker. "You're in this shock of where your world falls apart, and you're trying to just put things back together," Hu said. Dr. Chris D'Avella, a thoracic medical oncologist at Penn Medicine, examined Hu during that first ER visit. Today, D'Avella still oversees Hu's care. "We have had a rise in non-smoking-related lung cancers. And what we know is that there are certain targetable mutations, so mutations in the tumor that drive its growth," D'Avella said. Hu's immediate thought after hearing his diagnosis was his young kids. "That was probably the first thing that came to my mind," he said. "Not even me being sick, but what it means for my family." Thankfully, breakthroughs in research, advanced biomarker testing and sequencing led to targeted drug therapy that proved effective. "The thing that's been game-changing is that the amount of people that have shrinkage with the drug can be close to 80-90%," D'Avella said. Today, despite some setbacks, Hu is still able to look forward to the future. He continues advocating for more research and resources for lung cancer treatment. "Knowing that there's so much more on the horizon, it's exciting, but also for a patient like myself, it can't come fast enough," he said. On Saturday, Hu will take part in the American Lung Association's Lung Force Walk at the Philadelphia Zoo. He said he walks with hope that one day, a cancer diagnosis "will be met with relief, knowing effective treatments are available." Learn more about the Lung Force Walk and get involved at
