Oncology Newsfeed

Calendar Year 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Released

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has finalized changes in CMS’s annual Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) proposed rule to significantly expand access to behavioral health services and moves the health system closer to achieving equitable outcomes through high quality, affordable, person-centered care. These changes will ensure CMS continues to deliver on their goals of advancing health equity, driving accountable care, and protecting the sustainability of the Medicare program.

For more information, read the press release.

Posted 11/2/2022. 

Cost and Coordination of Care Head List of Concerns with Combination Anti-Cancer Therapy

Patients undergoing anti-cancer treatment that incorporates intravenous and oral agents may experience compound adverse effects and challenges related to treatment adherence. Through a national mixed-methods study, ACCC is assessing how care coordination may be improved for these patients. Read more from Oncology Nurse Advisor.

Posted 10/21/2022

FDA Approves Teclistamab for Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma

On October 25, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted an accelerated approval to teclistamab-cqyv for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least four prior treatments. 

For more information, read the FDA announcement. 

Posted 10/27/2022

FDA Approves Tremelimumab in Combination with Durvalumab for Unresectable HCC

On October 21, 2022, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved tremelimumab in combination with durvalumab for adult patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). 

For more information, read the FDA announcement and the AstraZeneca announcement. 

Posted 10/24/2022

FDA Grants Accelerated Approval to Futibatinib for Cholangiocarcinoma

On September 30, 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to futibatinib for adult patients with previously treated, unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma harboring fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 gene fusions or other rearrangements.

For more information read the FDA announcement.

Posted 10/3/2022

FDA Approves Bevacizumab-adcd for  Six Types of Cancer

On September 28, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Vegzelma^® (bevacizumab-adcd), a biosimilar to Avastin® (bevacizumab), for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer; recurrent or metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer; recurrent glioblastoma; metastatic renal cell carcinoma; persistent, recurrent, and metastatic cervical and epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer. 

For more information read the Business Wire press release. 

Posted 9/28/2022

FDA Expands Selpercatinib Approval for RET Fusion-Positive Solid Tumors

On September 21, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to selpercatinib for adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors with a rearranged during transfection (RET) gene fusion that have progressed on or following prior systemic treatment or who have no satisfactory alternative treatment options.

For more information, read the FDA announcement and the Lilly announcement. 

Posted 9/22/2022

Foundation Medicine Announces Call for Grants

The Patient and Professional Partnerships team at Foundation Medicine has announced a call for grants subject to certain terms. The deadline to submit full grant proposal is November 29th, 2022, and the grant will be awarded on December 14th, 2022.

Foundation Medicine, Inc. provides support to nonprofit groups that prioritize patient advocacy, patient services, and patient education. This award is intended to help projects that address oncology care inequities and are centered on the cancer community. Support requests must be connected to healthcare and appropriate for Foundation Medicine, Inc.'s active therapeutic or technological cancer areas. Only applications which include a collaboration between two separate organizations will be considered, and applicants must be based in the U.S.

For more information and to receive instructions about the application process, email Foundation Medicine.

Posted 9/13/2022

FDA Approves Eflapegrastim for Chemo-Induced Neutropenia

On September 9, 2022,  the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved eflapegrastim-xnst  to decrease the incidence of infection, as manifested by febrile neutropenia, in adult patients with nonmyeloid malignancies who are receiving myelosuppressive treatment. 

For more information, read the Spectrum Pharmaceuticals announcement. 

Posted 9/12/2022

FDA Approves Durvalumab + Gemcitabine for Biliary Tract Cancer

 On September 2, 2022, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) durvalumab in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin for adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic biliary tract cancer. 

For more information, read the FDA announcement, and the AstraZeneca announcement. 

Posted 9/8/2022