May 19, 2016
June 2013, Vol 2, No 4
Personalized Medicine in the Public Arena: Managing Expectations
Dear Colleague, Angelina Jolie’s recent surgery might be termed “the double mastectomy heard ’round the world.” It certainly holds important lessons for physicians, the public, and for your product’s market access. Ms Jolie’s treatment decision, a response to the dreaded mutation of the BRCA gene that gave her a 90% [ Read More ]
UncategorizedAnti–PD-L1 Drug Achieves Response in Variety of Tumors
The engineered PD-L1–targeted antibody shows impressive tumor shrinkage rates in several types of cancers that had progressed on several lines of previous therapy. In a phase 1 study, the novel agent demonstrated safety and durable responses in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), melanoma, and kidney, colorectal, and gastric cancers. The [ Read More ]
UncategorizedCombination Immunotherapy Shows Promise in Advanced Melanoma
Combination therapy with ipilimumab and nivolumab achieved remarkable responses in a phase 1 trial of patients with aggressive advanced melanoma. Durable tumor shrinkage was observed in about half the patients. “The complete and near-complete responses we are seeing are unprecedented for an immunotherapy in melanoma. We are particularly impressed that [ Read More ]
UncategorizedFirst-in-Class PI3K Inhibitor Shows Remarkable Phase 1 Results in CLL
A first-in-class PI3 kinase (PI3K) inhibitor achieved dramatic responses in a phase 1 study of heavily pretreated relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Idelalisib (GS-1101) produced rapid and durable tumor shrinkage in about half the patients who received the drug. These results were reported at a pre-ASCO press cast and at [ Read More ]
UncategorizedA Path Toward Pancreatic Cancer Predictive Biomarkers
Dr Rosenberg received his medical degree from the University of California, Irvine, and is currently practicing as a third-year fellow in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at Scripps Clinic. Dr Sigal received his medical degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, and is currently practicing in the Division of Hematology/Oncology [ Read More ]
Pancreatic CancerPersonalized Medicine and Value: The Intersection of Science and Financial Viability
Mr Hennessy is Vice President of Operations at Sarah Cannon. Ms Morris is Director, Syndicated Research at Zitter Health Insights, a research firm focusing on the impact of payers on the use of life science products. Dr Vogenberg is a founding principal of Bentelligence and a principal of its affiliate, [ Read More ]
UncategorizedGene Profiling in Colon Cancer: How to Integrate Profiling Into Practice
Dr Van Loon is Assistant Clinical Professor, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). She is a gastrointestinal cancer specialist, with a particular interest in colon cancer. Dr Atreya is Adjunct Instructor at UCSF. She is a gastrointestinal oncologist and scientist whose research focuses on the interplay between genotype and response [ Read More ]
Budget Impact Model: Epigenetic Assay Can Help Avoid Unnecessary Repeated Prostate Biopsies and Reduce Healthcare Spending
Dr Aubry is Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at the Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, and Senior Medical Director of Quorum Consulting in San Francisco, California. Dr Lieberthal is Assistant Professor at the Jefferson School of Population Health, Thomas Jefferson University in [ Read More ]
UncategorizedTrouble at the Beginning: Diagnostic Acumen and the Relentless Search for Red Flags
Four decades ago I was told that pain is the universal magnet drawing people to a doctor’s care. At the time, it was medical wisdom itself – for who would seek aid unless pain suggested a health issue? Today’s personalized medicine, technologically driven to include preventive care, has updated this [ Read More ]
The Last Word