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Immunotherapies herald 'new era' for liver cancer in 2018
Posted 29 November 2017
Liver specialists have been told to prepare for the arrival of checkpoint inhibitors in 2018, with the Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA) saying the incoming class of drugs will herald a "new era" in treatment options.
Though no checkpoint inhibitors are as yet ARTG registered in Australia for liver cancer, the organisation said it anticipated the first of these would be available in 2018.
In September the FDA handed down its first approval to a checkpoint inhibitor, BMS' Opdivo (nivolumab), for liver cancer under an accelerated approval designation, making the drug a likely candidate for the first wave of drugs set to arrive in Australia for the indication.
It was approved for second-line treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients previously treated with Bayer's Nexavar (sorafenib).
Opdivo is already ARTG registered for melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, kidney cancer and classical Hodgkin lymphoma indications, and has won PBS listing for melanoma, kidney cancer and lung cancer.
The society urged government to act quickly in PBS-listing the new liver cancer options when they arrive.
"Rates of liver cancer have doubled in the past 20 years, yet it remains an under-recognised, under-diagnosed and under-treated cancer. We need timely subsidisation of new treatments and government investment in measures to aid early diagnosis and intervention," Queensland University head of clinical medicine Professor Darrell Crawford said.
"Liver cancer is a clear and present threat and the time to act is now. Liver specialists must ensure they are ready for new treatments, and the government must be prepared to provide the funding and support necessary to turn the tide on liver cancer."
Other checkpoint inhibitors which may also arrive in the space are MSD's Keytruda (pembrolizumab) which is in phase 3 trials for second-line use, while AZ's Imfinzi (durvalumab) is in early combination trials for the indication.
A workshop for specialists focusing on the new liver cancer treatment regimes is being held in Brisbane next month.
Yajun Ma
yajun.ma@lushmedia.com.au
Posted 29 November 2017
Liver specialists have been told to prepare for the arrival of checkpoint inhibitors in 2018, with the Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA) saying the incoming class of drugs will herald a "new era" in treatment options.
Though no checkpoint inhibitors are as yet ARTG registered in Australia for liver cancer, the organisation said it anticipated the first of these would be available in 2018.
In September the FDA handed down its first approval to a checkpoint inhibitor, BMS' Opdivo (nivolumab), for liver cancer under an accelerated approval designation, making the drug a likely candidate for the first wave of drugs set to arrive in Australia for the indication.
It was approved for second-line treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients previously treated with Bayer's Nexavar (sorafenib).
Opdivo is already ARTG registered for melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, kidney cancer and classical Hodgkin lymphoma indications, and has won PBS listing for melanoma, kidney cancer and lung cancer.
The society urged government to act quickly in PBS-listing the new liver cancer options when they arrive.
"Rates of liver cancer have doubled in the past 20 years, yet it remains an under-recognised, under-diagnosed and under-treated cancer. We need timely subsidisation of new treatments and government investment in measures to aid early diagnosis and intervention," Queensland University head of clinical medicine Professor Darrell Crawford said.
"Liver cancer is a clear and present threat and the time to act is now. Liver specialists must ensure they are ready for new treatments, and the government must be prepared to provide the funding and support necessary to turn the tide on liver cancer."
Other checkpoint inhibitors which may also arrive in the space are MSD's Keytruda (pembrolizumab) which is in phase 3 trials for second-line use, while AZ's Imfinzi (durvalumab) is in early combination trials for the indication.
A workshop for specialists focusing on the new liver cancer treatment regimes is being held in Brisbane next month.
Yajun Ma
yajun.ma@lushmedia.com.au
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