New Combo Drug Could Save Many With Breast Cancer
Keytruda, a.k.a. pembolizumab, is the subject of a Press Association report that highlights how effective it is against certain aggressive breast cancers if given with chemotherapy. Everly Health, Roche in South Africa, an expensive cystic fibrosis drug and more are also in the news.
Press Association:
Breast Cancer Treatment: Powerful Drug Combination 'Could Save Thousands'
A powerful drug combination for breast cancer could save thousands of lives, according to new results from a long-term study. The drug Keytruda (also known as pembrolizumab), if given at the right time and in combination with chemotherapy, can stop the disease coming back in women with a type of aggressive breast cancer, driving up the chance of being cured. Keytruda is an immunotherapy that works by helping the immune system to kill cancer cells. It is already a treatment for a number of cancers. (2/9)
In other news about cancer —
Axios:
Everly Partnership To Offer Early-Detection Home Cancer Tests
Austin-based home testing company Everly Health is gearing up to partner with a leading home cancer testing company to offer its early-detection home cancer test to members of employer health plans, sources tell Axios. Besides giving Everly Health a potential foothold in clinical testing, the deal serves as an early test of its (newish) enterprise division for employers and health plans. Everly's enterprise arm, called Everly Health Solutions, could serve to lock elbows with large pools of employees and beneficiaries, a welcome addition to the company's existing, mostly consumer user base. (Brodwin, 2/9)
Stat:
South Africa's Antitrust Regulator Wants Roche Penalized For 'Excessive' Cancer Drug Pricing
South Africa’s antitrust regulator has recommended that Roche (RHHBY) should be penalized for allegedly “excessive” pricing of its Herceptin breast cancer treatment, arguing it violates basic human rights by impeding access to a life-saving medicine. More than 10,000 breast cancer patients — nearly half of the total number of newly diagnosed patients — were unable to obtain the medicine due to cost between 2011 and 2020 in the private and public health care sectors, according to the Competition Commission, which referred the matter to the Competition Tribunal for prosecution. (Silverman, 2/9)
And more pharmaceutical news —
Stat:
Study: Vertex Drug Cost Could Worsen Global Disparity In Cystic Fibrosis Care
Just 12% of the 162,000 people estimated to be living with cystic fibrosis in nearly 100 countries are receiving a highly effective, but pricey treatment. And tens of thousands more are believed to be undiagnosed in dozens of other countries where the medicine is not available, according to a new study. The findings suggest a sizable global disparity in treating cystic fibrosis, an inherited disorder that severely damages the lungs and limits life expectancy to 46 years in the U.S., according to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The average life expectancy has climbed from 38 years a decade ago, due in part to the recent arrival of new medicines. But life expectancy can be half as much in low and middle-income countries, notably many in Africa. (Silverman, 2/9)
Stat:
Drugs Based On Next-Gen CRISPR Moving Toward The Clinic Faster
Later this year, the now-Nobel prize-winning paper authored by Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier — in which they described how a primordial immune system in bacteria could be harnessed to edit the genomes of other organisms — will turn 10 years old. The discovery that CRISPR could be turned into an easily programmable tool for rewriting DNA launched biomedical research into warp drive. In the 10 years leading up to 2012, 200 papers mentioned CRISPR. In 2020 alone, there were more than 6,000. The last decade has seen scientists use CRISPR to cure mice of progeria, fix muscular dystrophy in dogs, and eliminate symptoms for people with genetic blood disorders. Currently, there are more than two dozen human trials of the technology underway around the world. (Molteni, 2/10)
CIDRAP:
Groups Urge McDonald's To Honor Antibiotics Commitment
A coalition of food safety, animal welfare, and environmental health groups is pushing the nation's largest fast-food chain to honor its commitment to reducing the amount of antibiotics used in its beef. Yesterday, the groups sent a petition with more than 25,000 signatures to McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski urging the company to fulfill its pledge to set meaningful reduction targets for the use of medically important antibiotics in its global beef and dairy supply chains. (Dall, 2/9)
Stat:
Digital Pharmacy Startups Thirty Madison And Nurx To Merge
Health tech startups Thirty Madison and Nurx announced Wednesday they intend to merge, hinting at the increasing maturity in the market for companies that make it easy to connect with a doctor and get a prescription delivered to your door. Thirty Madison, which was founded in 2017 and last year raised $140 million at a valuation over $1 billion, provides care for chronic conditions under pleasant brand names, like Picnic, its service for people with allergies, or Cove, its offering for migraine sufferers. The company cleared $100 million in sales last year. Nurx, which was founded in 2016 and has raised $115 million to date, started as a birth control provider and has since expanded to other areas of sexual health as well as dermatology. The combined company will carry on under the Thirty Madison name and will offer services in 46 states. The terms of the deal and a new valuation weren’t disclosed. (Aguilar, 2/9)
