Top in hem/onc: Repurposing cancer drugs for COVID-19, Phesgo approval

Many anticancer drugs — including BTK inhibitors, JAK inhibitors, immunomodulatory drugs, and more — are being investigated as potential COVID-19 treatments. An overview of these investigations was the top story in hematology/oncology last week.

Another top story was about the FDA approval of Phesgo (Genentech), an at-home treatment regimen for adults with HER2-positive breast cancer.

Read these and more top stories in hematology/oncology below:

Cancer drugs’ targeted, anti-inflammatory effects support repurposing for COVID-19

Jai N. Patel, PharmD, BCOP, CPP, chair of cancer pharmacology and associate professor in the division of hematology/oncology at Levine Cancer Institute at Atrium Health, provides an overview of anticancer drugs that are being investigated as potential molecules for drug repurposing against COVID-19 given their targeted and anti-inflammatory effects. Read more.

FDA approves Phesgo, at-home treatment regimen for breast cancer

The FDA recently approved Phesgo, the combination of pertuzumab (Perjeta, Genentech), trastuzumab (Herceptin, Genentech) and hyaluronidase-zzxf, for the treatment of adults with HER2-positive breast cancer. Read more.

ASH to develop 'living guidelines' for anticoagulant use among patients with COVID-19

Abnormalities in blood clotting have been linked to increased mortality risk among patients with COVID-19. Read more.

‘A call to arms’: Addressing the undertreatment of advanced bladder cancer

For decades, the 5-year survival rate for patients with advanced bladder cancer has remained at about 35%. Read more.

FDA approves Keytruda as first-line treatment for colorectal cancer subtype

The FDA approved pembrolizumab (Keytruda, Merck) for first-line treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic microsatellite instability-high or mismatch repair-deficient colorectal cancer. Read more.