The Readout Loud
322: A new threat to Merck's blockbuster cancer treatment, Moderna's cutbacks, and obesity drugs for kids
Sep 12, 2024
In this discussion, Matt Herper, a STAT reporter focused on cancer immunotherapy, joins Bob Duggan, co-CEO of Summit, to delve into recent turbulence in cancer treatments. They explore a groundbreaking drug that outperforms Merck's Keytruda in lung cancer trials. The talk shifts to the complexities faced by Moderna, balancing vaccine production with drug development despite having ample cash reserves. Finally, they examine ethical concerns surrounding obesity drugs tested in children and their implications for future treatments.
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Quick takeaways
- The emergence of Ivanesumab represents a significant advancement in lung cancer treatment, outperforming Merck's Keytruda and extending tumor progression timelines.
- Moderna's substantial cutbacks in R&D budget highlight the challenges it faces in diversifying beyond COVID vaccines amidst investor skepticism.
Deep dives
Breakthrough in Lung Cancer Therapy
A newly developed drug called Ivanesumab has shown remarkable results in a recent clinical trial, outperforming Merck's established cancer immunotherapy, Keytruda, in treating lung cancer. Patients treated with Ivanesumab experienced a 49% reduction in tumor progression risk, significantly extending the period before their tumors began to grow again, from 5.8 months to over 11 months. This represents a major advancement in the treatment of lung cancer, particularly as it is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The combination mechanism of targeting both PD-1 and VEGF is believed to contribute to its efficacy, raising hopes for a new competitor in the immunotherapy landscape.
