August 2023 Snap Recap: Chemo Shortages, FDA Approvals in Multiple Myeloma

Looking back at August 2023, several news items proved to be the most poured over by CancerNetwork^® readers. This included 2 FDA approvals for patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma, solutions for patients with breast cancer to conceive a child mid-treatment, details of the ongoing chemotherapy shortage, and a continuation of conversations from July’s Sarcoma Awareness Month.^1-6

Full versions of the articles are referenced below in the order that they appear:

• FDA Gives Talquetamab Accelerated Approval for R/R Multiple Myeloma by Ariana Pelosci
• Elranatamab Receives Accelerated Approval in R/R Multiple Myeloma by Ariana Pelosci
• Endocrine Therapy Break May Allow for Conception in HR+ Breast Cancer by Ariana Pelosci
• Pharmacy Expert Details Causes of Carboplatin/Cisplatin Shortage in the U.S. by Michael Ganio, PharmD, MS, BCPS, FASHP
• Expert Highlights ‘Exciting’ Ongoing Trials in Different Sarcoma Subtypes by Brian Van Tine, MD, PhD

References

1. U.S. FDA approved TALVEY (talquetamab-tgvs), a first-in-class bispecific therapy for the treatment of patients with heavily pretreated multiple myeloma. News release. The Janssen Pharmaceuticals. August 10, 2023. Accessed September 14, 2023. https://prn.to/3KwnjyD
2. Pfizer’s Elrexfio receives U.S. FDA accelerated approval for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. News release. Pfizer. August 14, 2023. Accessed September 14, 2023. https://bit.ly/3DTCRIY
3. Partridge AH, Niman SM, Ruggeri M, et al. Interrupting endocrine therapy to attempt pregnancy after breast cancer. N Engl J Med. 2023;388(18):1645-1656. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2212856
4. NCCN releases statement addressing ongoing chemotherapy shortages; shares survey results finding more than 90% of cancer centers are impacted. News release. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. June 7, 2023. Accessed September 14, 2023. https://shorturl.at/ERY27
5. Ingham M, Blay JY, Baird J, et al. A phase II/III study evaluating the efficacy and safety of unesbulin in advanced leiomyosarcoma (SUNRISELMS). Ann Oncol. 2022;33(7):S1243-S1244. doi:10.1016/j.annonc.2022.07.1917
6. Hong DS, Van Tine BA, Biswas S, et al. Autologous T cell therapy for MAGE-A4+ solid cancers in HLA-A*02+ patients: a phase 1 trial. Nat Med. 2023;29:104-114. doi:10.1038/s41591-022-02128-z