CYTALUX® (Pafolacianine)

The FDA on November 29, 2021, approved CYTALUX®, an optical imaging agent, for adult patients with ovarian cancer as an adjunct for interoperative identification of malignant lesions. CYTALUX® is a fluorescent drug that targets folate receptor which may be overexpressed in ovarian cancer. It is used with a Near-Infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging system cleared by the FDA for specific use with CYTALUX®. CYTALUX® is a product of On Target Laboratories, LLC.

KEYTRUDA® (Pembrolizumab)

The FDA on November 17, 2021, approved KEYTRUDA® (Pembrolizumab) for the adjuvant treatment of patients with Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) at intermediate-high or high risk of recurrence following nephrectomy, or following nephrectomy and resection of metastatic lesions. KEYTRUDA® is a product of Merck & Co.

SCEMBLIX® (Asciminib)

The FDA on October 29, 2021, granted accelerated approval to SCEMBLIX® (Asciminib) for patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (Ph+ CML) in Chronic Phase (CP), previously treated with two or more Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs), and approved SCEMBLIX® for adult patients with Ph+ CML in CP with the T315I mutation. SCEMBLIX® is a product of Novartis AG.

TECENTRIQ® (Atezolizumab)

The FDA on October 15, 2021, approved TECENTRIQ® (Atezolizumab) for adjuvant treatment following resection and platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with Stage II to IIIA Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors have PD-L1 expression on ≥ 1% of tumor cells, as determined by an FDA-approved test. TECENTRIQ® is a product of Genentech, Inc.

Today, the FDA also approved the VENTANA PD-L1 (SP263) Assay (Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.) as a companion diagnostic device to select patients with NSCLC for adjuvant treatment with TECENTRIQ®.

KEYTRUDA® (Pembrolizumab)

The FDA on October 13, 2021, approved KEYTRUDA® in combination with chemotherapy, with or without Bevacizumab, for patients with persistent, recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS ≥1), as determined by an FDA-approved test. KEYTRUDA® is a product of Merck & Co., Inc.

FDA also granted regular approval to KEYTRUDA® as a single agent for patients with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer with disease progression on or after chemotherapy whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS ≥1) as determined by an FDA-approved test. In June 2018, FDA had granted accelerated approval to this indication with the companion diagnostic, PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx (Dako North America Inc.).

VERZENIO® (Abemaciclib)

The FDA on October 12, 2021, approved VERZENIO® (Abemaciclib) with endocrine therapy (Tamoxifen or an Aromatase Inhibitor) for adjuvant treatment of adult patients with Hormone Receptor (HR)-positive, Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2 (HER2)-negative, node-positive, early breast cancer at high risk of recurrence and a Ki-67 score ≥20%, as determined by an FDA approved test. This is the first CDK 4/6 inhibitor approved for adjuvant treatment of breast cancer. VERZENIO® is a product of Eli Lilly and Company.

FDA also approved the Ki-67 IHC MIB-1 pharmDx (Dako Omnis) assay, submitted by Agilent, Inc., as a companion diagnostic for selecting patients for this indication.