Recent FDA Approvals Continue to Focus on Targeted and Immunotherapy

June 20, 2017 by Kathleen Wiley MSN, RN, AOCNS®

Oncology clinicians can expect to continue to see new targeted and immunotherapy drugs emerge as clinically approved agents in the fight against cancer.

Five cancer-related U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approvals occurred in the first quarter of 2017; following are their indications for treatment and associated clinical implications. (Refer to the package inserts to guarantee the most recent dosing and drug information.) You’ll recognize that some of the agents were already FDA approved for other uses, but as clinical trials continue and new data emerge, clinical use is expanding to other disease sites and indications.

Nivolumab for metastatic bladder cancer

Lenalidomide for maintenance therapy in multiple myeloma

Telotristat ethyl for treatment of adults with carcinoid syndrome diarrhea

Ribociclib in combination with aromatase inhibitors for HR-postivie/HER2-negative or metastatic breast cancer

Pembrolizumab for refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma in the adult and pediatric settings


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