In the News

Approvals for new delivery methods for Herceptin and Cinvanti, and a new indication for Lonsurf close out the month of February in the FDA’s oncology-related activity.

On February 15, 2019, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the immunotherapy agent pembrolizumab (Keytruda; Merck) for the adjuvant treatment of patients with resected stage III melanoma. This was the fourth approval pembrolizumab has received in the United States for the treatment of skin cancer, and the first FDA approval in the adjuvant setting.

Now in its fourth week, the longest shutdown in the history of the federal government is having an impact on patient care, as the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has put drug reviews and approvals for new drugs and devices, as well as the issuance of new guidance documents, on indefinite hold.

The Biden Cancer Initiative builds on former Vice President Joe Biden’s work on the National Cancer Moonshot Initiative by developing and driving implementation of solutions to accelerate progress in cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis, research, and care, and to reduce disparities in cancer outcomes.

“Participating in a national conversation on improving cancer care is a great honor. We are being asked to reconsider how we address cancer from prevention through survivorship. It’s a huge undertaking, but a very exciting one. I’m delighted to be a part of it.” –Danelle Johnston, MSN, RN, ONN-CG, OCN

Federal health officials this week allowed a genetic testing firm to sell kits to consumers to test whether they carry gene mutations that put them at higher risk for breast and ovarian cancer.

"Our partnership with AONN+ is a great addition to the tools and resources Midwest Cancer Alliance offers our medical colleagues.” –Executive Director, Hope Krebill, MSW, BSN, RN

It has been proved that teamwork is vital in the battle against cancer. This is a fact that the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators (AONN+) and the American Cancer Society (ACS) recently validated when they entered into a National Alliance Partnership Program.