Mirvetuximab soravtansine

Novo's Ozempic could add 'eight healthy days' annually in CKDOliX raises $71M to advance siRNA assetsNICE backs AbbVie's ovarian cancer drugNovo's Ozempic could add 'eight healthy days' annually in CKDNew data from the Phase III FLOW trial, presented at the European Renal Association (ERA) congress, showed Novo Nordisk's once-weekly Ozempic (semaglutide) significantly improved health-related quality of life in adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD) — equalling approximately eight additional days per year spent in full health.The analysis, drawn from 3533 participants, used the EQ-5D-5L patient-reported questionnaire to assess mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. Results showed that after two years, health utility scores — ranging from 0 (death) to 1 (perfect health) — remained stable in the Ozempic group, but declined with placebo, yielding a significant treatment difference of +0.021. Additionally, all assessed domains, with the exception of anxiety/depression, showed significant improvement with Ozempic versus placebo; benefits were consistent across subgroups.FLOW originally demonstrated that the GLP-1 agonist lowered risk of major kidney disease events by 24% and all-cause mortality by 20% versus placebo over a median 3.4 years, which helped the GLP-1 drug secure a label expansion in CKD. Lead author Johannes Mann said the latest findings "confirm that the benefits…extend beyond traditional clinical endpoints to subjective outcomes that matter directly to patients."-Pavan KamatOliX raises $71M to advance siRNA assetsSouth Korean biotech OliX Pharmaceuticals secured fresh capital worth roughly KRW 110 billion ($71 million) through newly issued common shares. The financing was jointly led by L'Oréal's corporate venture capital fund BOLD and US-based Weiss Asset Management, the latter also having previously invested in the company last August.The latest proceeds will help advance OliX's siRNA-based pipeline programmes — built on its OASIS delivery platform — across multiple therapeutic areas, including skin and hair conditions, age-related macular degeneration and metabolic liver disease.OliX's Eli Lilly-partnered lead asset OLX75016 is currently being investigated in a Phase I metabolic-associated steatohepatitis study in Australia.-Pavan KamatNICE backs AbbVie's ovarian cancer drugThe UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence issued guidance Thursday recommending National Health Service (NHS) funding of AbbVie's Elahere (mirvetuximab soravtansine) for folate receptor-alpha (FRɑ)-positive platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer. It's the first new NHS treatment in over 20 years recommended for resistant ovarian cancer.In the MIRASOL study, which enrolled 453 women, those who received Elahere lived an average of 16.9 months compared to 13 months with chemotherapy. In addition, cancer progression was delayed, with women on Elahere having an average of 5.6 months before their disease worsened, versus 4 months with chemotherapy.Elahere, an FRɑ-targeting antibody-drug conjugate approved in the UK last July, will be immediately available through the Cancer Drugs Fund and will switch to routine commissioning shortly after final guidance is published.  -Matt Dennis

Hundreds of women with hard-to-treat ovarian cancer could benefit from a new, life-extending drug on the NHS from today – the first new addition to NHS treatment in over 20 years. The new targeted therapy – mirvetuximab soravtansine – will be offered to patients living with ovarian cancer whose disease has stopped responding to standard (platinum-based) chemotherapy, providing new hope of extra time to live. The drug combines a ‘homing’ antibody with a cancer-killing medicine – often described by scientists as a ‘biological missile’ or ‘trojan horse’ therapy. It works by attaching to ovarian cancer cells that have a protein called folate receptor alpha (FRα) on their surface, before releasing a cancer-killing molecule which destroys the cell from within. In a major global clinical trial involving eight NHS hospitals. the treatment delayed cancer progression and prolonged survival, with patients living 16.5 months on average compared to 12.8 months with chemotherapy. One patient said the treatment helped “add life to years”, enabling her to get on with life “rather than spending it in bed recovering from the side effects of chemotherapy”. Following a recommendation by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) today, the treatment will be available for patients with epithelial ovarian, peritoneal or fallopian tube cancer that has become resistant to platinum-based chemotherapy and whose tumours contain the FRα protein the drug targets. The treatment is given intravenously (via a drip) over 2-4 hours, once every three weeks. The drug may also have more tolerable side effects than traditional chemotherapy – with the treatment aimed more precisely at cancer cells than chemotherapy, which harms healthy cells The NHS estimates up to 400 patients in England each year could benefit. Patricia Hill, 64, a retired NHS physiotherapist from North London who also spent six years working in cancer care, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2023 and began treatment with mirvetuximab soravtansine in January this year. She said : “It’s been incredibly positive. Previously, I’ve had three different lines of chemotherapy, and this is the first time that I’ve actually been able to get on with my life in terms of the impact of side effects.” “The feelings of isolation and loneliness that you have undergoing conventional chemotherapy are totally or more or less totally eradicated when using mirvetuximab. It actually adds life to years, rather than spending your life in bed recovering from the side effects of chemotherapy.” Since starting treatment, Patricia has been to the theatre and cinema, dined out with friends, and in March flew to Ireland for a family reunion – which she said she could not have done on standard chemotherapy. She also was able to attend the Chelsea Flower Show. The treatment will be available from today, with NHS England fast-tracking access for patients through its Cancer Drugs Fund, which has provided early access to innovative new treatments to more than 100,000 patients in the past 10 years. Professor Ruth Plummer, NHS national clinical lead for cancer drugs, said : “This represents the most significant breakthrough in NHS treatment for these hard-to-treat ovarian cancers in over two decades – and we’re delighted it will now offer hundreds of women much-needed hope of precious extra time with their loved ones. “It is part of a growing wave of more targeted cancer therapies which, by homing in on specific features of cancer cells, are helping us improve patients’ lives.” Ovarian cancer is one of the leading causes of death from gynaecological cancer worldwide. In the UK, there are around 7,500 new diagnoses each year. Standard treatment for ovarian cancer typically involves surgery and chemotherapy, but around 80% of patients with advanced disease relapse and most eventually develop resistance to chemotherapy. More than a third of patients (37%) also saw their tumours shrink by at least 30%, compared to 16% with chemotherapy in trials. Jenny Green, 71, a Royal Mail worker from Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire , has been living with ovarian cancer since her diagnosis in 2017 and received mirvetuximab soravtansine through the clinical trial. She said : “I seem to have tolerated it very well, with hardly any side effects at all. That’s been amazing! I had a scan that showed my cancer nodules were shrinking, and my bloods were coming back into range – which is all pretty good to hear!” Minister for Public Health, Sharon Hodgson said : “This is an important moment for hundreds of women with ovarian cancer and a testament to our commitment to getting the most promising treatments to NHS patients as quickly as possible. “Critically, today’s decision means that patients will have a better quality of life than they otherwise would.” Victoria Clare, Chief Executive Officer at Ovacome, the UK’s ovarian cancer support charity, said : “This is really positive news for many with ovarian cancer. For those whose cancers are platinum resistant, this offers hope and a chance of a new treatment on the NHS.” “This decision has the potential to make a real difference to those who are able to access this treatment. We are delighted that NICE has listened to patients, their families and the clinicians.” Mirvetuximab soravtansine (Elahere) has been developed by AbbVie. It represents the first new addition to NHS treatment for this group of patients since the rollout of liposomal doxorubicin and paclitaxel in the early 2000s. Common side effects of the treatment include eye problems (such as blurred vision or dry eyes), tiredness, nausea, and low blood counts, with most effects manageable with monitoring and supportive care. Kelly Sanderson Schrems, Vice President and General Manager, AbbVie UK said : “Today’s decision is an important moment for the ovarian cancer community, who have waited more than two decades for a new treatment to be NICE recommended for this advanced stage of the disease. “AbbVie is committed to investing in areas of high unmet need and bringing innovative medicines to patients. We support efforts to create a system that recognises the value these medicines bring which is essential not only for UK patients but for the UK ecosystem more broadly.” For background Patients eligible for this treatment will be referred to one of the hospitals that provide systematic anti-cancer therapy for gynaecological cancers. Clinical trials for Mirvetuximab have taken place at the following hospitals in the UK: St Bartholomew’s Hospital-Barts Health NHS Trust University College London Hospital The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust The Christie NHS Foundation Trust Peterborough City Hospital Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford) University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre, Glasgow Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. 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