Today's Pharma Pulse
Jazz Pharma’s Zepzelca misses survival goal in Phase III lung cancer trial
Jazz Pharmaceuticals reported that its lung‑cancer drug Zepzelca did not improve overall survival in the Phase III Lagoon trial for second‑line small‑cell lung cancer, jeopardizing its accelerated approval in this setting. The study of 724 patients showed median overall survival of 8.7 months with Zepzelca alone and 10.9 months with the combination, compared with 10.7 months for control.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Parabilis Medicines raises $2.4B in IPO
Replimune Reports 3‑Year Survival Benefit for RP1 + Nivolumab in Anti‑PD‑1‑Resistant Melanoma
Replimune Group presented IGNYTE trial results at the 2026 ASCO meeting, showing a median overall survival of 32.9 months and nearly half of patients alive at three years. The RP1 plus nivolumab regimen delivered a 33.6% response rate with durable responses, offering a new option for melanoma patients who have progressed on anti‑PD‑1 therapy.
Grail Launches $950 Multi‑cancer Blood Test at ASCO, Sparking Debate over Cost and Efficacy
Grail introduced its $950 Galleri blood test at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting, presenting data from a UK study of more than 140,000 participants. The test identified 937 additional cancers but missed many early‑stage cases, prompting clinicians and...
FDA Clears MannKind's Afrezza Inhalable Insulin for Kids 6+, Expanding Pediatric Diabetes Options
MannKind Corp. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Afrezza inhalable insulin for children and adolescents aged six and older with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The decision, based on the pivotal INHALE‑1 trial and two decades of...
Can Wegovy Move the Needle on NZ’s Obesity Crisis, or Simply Treat Its Symptoms?
New Zealand’s drug‑funding agency Pharmac has placed semaglutide‑based Wegovy on its future funding list, targeting people with severe obesity or weight‑related health conditions. Currently the drug costs about NZ$400 a month (≈US$240), putting it out of reach for many, especially...
Long-Term Leukemia Trial Reveals MRD-Triggered Treatment May Slow or Prevent Relapse
The RELAZA2 trial has released its long‑term data, confirming that azacitidine administered at the first sign of measurable residual disease (MRD) can significantly delay relapse in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). As the world’s first prospective MRD‑triggered...
Tempus Unveils the Next-Generation of Lens, Expanding Its Agentic AI Platform for Oncology Drug Development
Tempus AI launched the next‑generation Lens, an agentic AI platform that unifies its multimodal real‑world oncology data, high‑performance computing and validated AI agents. The cloud‑based system lets drug developers create research plans in plain language, execute analyses on more than...
Pfizer’s BRAFTOVI Regimen Nearly Doubles Median Progression-Free Survival in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Pfizer reported that its BRAFTOVI (encorafenib) regimen combined with cetuximab and FOLFIRI halved the risk of disease progression or death in patients with BRAF V600E‑mutant metastatic colorectal cancer. Median progression‑free survival more than doubled to 15.2 months versus 8.3 months for...
Kelonia Therapeutics Presents Updated First-in-Human Data From Phase 1 inMMyCAR Study of KLN-1010 in Vivo BCMA CAR-T Therapy at the...
Kelonia Therapeutics reported updated Phase 1 inMMyCAR data for its in‑vivo BCMA CAR‑T candidate KLN‑1010 at ASCO 2026. All 18 patients dosed showed a 100% overall response rate with MRD‑negative bone marrow, and the earliest‑treated patient remains disease‑free beyond ten months....
Lanatoside C Shows Senolytic Activity and Cuts Atherosclerosis in Mice
Researchers screened 2,150 FDA‑approved drugs and identified lanatoside C as a senolytic that eliminated senescent cells and lowered atherosclerotic plaque in mice, highlighting a new therapeutic avenue for age‑related vascular disease.
Eli Lilly's Retatrutide Triggers 30%+ Weight Loss in Late‑Stage Trial
Eli Lilly announced that its next‑generation GLP‑1 candidate Retatrutide produced weight loss of 30% or more in a late‑stage study, eclipsing results from existing injectables. The outcome could redefine the company's growth trajectory as it battles Novo Nordisk in the...
Pfizer’s TALZENNA‑XTANDI Combo Cuts Progression Risk 52% in HRR‑Mutated Prostate Cancer
Pfizer announced that its Phase 3 TALAPRO‑3 study found the TALZENNA (talazoparib) and XTANDI (enzalutamide) combination reduced radiographic progression or death by 52% versus XTANDI alone in men with HRR‑mutated metastatic castration‑sensitive prostate cancer. The data, presented with three‑year rPFS...
Experimental Pill Promises New Hope for Deadly Pancreatic Cancer
Researchers reported that the experimental pill daraxonrasib, which blocks mutated KRAS proteins, nearly doubled median survival for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer to 13.2 months versus 6.7 months on chemotherapy. The drug showed fewer severe side effects and improved quality...
RASolute 302 Brings a “Transformative" Moment in Pancreatic Cancer: A 60% Improvement in Overall Survival
Revolution Medicines’ RASolute 302 phase‑3 trial showed that the RAS(ON) inhibitor daraxonrasib improved overall survival by 60% in patients with previously treated metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Median overall survival more than doubled to 13.2 months versus 6.6 months on standard chemotherapy,...
ASCO26: Big Win for Erleada in Perioperative Prostate Cancer
Johnson & Johnson’s Erleada (apalutamide) dramatically improved outcomes when added to radical prostatectomy plus androgen‑deprivation therapy in a 2,109‑patient global trial presented at ASCO. Complete or near‑complete pathological response rose ninefold to 8.9% versus 1% in the control arm. Patients...
How S&P 500 Giant Pfizer Is Tackling Hard-To-Treat Cancers
Pfizer announced that its Braftovi‑based regimen more than doubled progression‑free survival for patients with BRAF‑mutated colon cancer, extending median PFS to 15.2 months versus 8.3 months with chemotherapy. The combination also cut overall death risk by 44% and lowered progression...
STAT+: For Prostate Cancer Patients Set on Surgery, New Hormone Regimen May Improve Outcomes, Study Finds
A phase‑3 PROTEUS trial found that administering two hormone therapies before and after prostatectomy outperformed a single‑hormone regimen in high‑risk, early‑stage patients. The dual approach reduced biochemical recurrence and improved margin‑negative resection rates. Oncologists view the data as a potential...
STAT+: Akeso and Summit’s Ivonescimab Extends Survival in Squamous Cell Lung Cancer
Ivonescimab, a dual‑action antibody co‑developed by Akeso Therapeutics and Summit Therapeutics, cut mortality risk by 34% versus standard therapy in a China‑only trial for squamous non‑small cell lung cancer. The data, unveiled at ASCO and published in The Lancet, represent...
Sandoz Files Anti-Dumping Complaint on Chinese Amoxicillin Imports
Swiss generic drugmaker Sandoz has submitted a draft anti‑dumping complaint to the European Commission, alleging that Chinese imports of amoxicillin active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are being sold at unfairly low prices. The filing, made on May 28, threatens to reshape...
Oculis' Phase 3 OCS-01 Eye‑Drop Trial Fails in Diabetic Macular Edema, Halts FDA Push
Oculis Holding AG announced that its Phase 3 DIAMOND-1 and DIAMOND-2 trials of OCS-01 eye drops failed to meet the primary visual‑acuity endpoint and the key secondary 15‑letter gain endpoint in diabetic macular edema. The company will not pursue an...
NeuExcell Therapeutics Announces Encouraging Data of NXL-004 in Recurrent Malignant Glioma at 2026 ASCO
NeuExcell Therapeutics announced that its first‑in‑human gene therapy NXL‑004 for recurrent malignant glioma earned a Rapid Oral presentation slot at ASCO 2026. The AAV‑NeuroD1 platform was tested in eleven patients, showing a favorable safety profile with no drug‑related serious adverse...
Retatrutide Is Bringing a Hard Look at Health Outcomes
Eli Lilly’s phase‑3 TRIUMPH‑1 trial showed retatrutide delivering unprecedented weight loss, with participants on the top dose shedding an average of 28.3% of body weight after 80 weeks and 45.3% achieving at least a 30% reduction. In a two‑year extension...
Melatonin Cuts Radiation DNA Damage by One‑third
Melatonin has radioprotective effects☢️ In this 2020 clinical study, 5 healthy males aged 25–35 were given 100 mg of melatonin before exposure to 100 mGy of X-ray radiation (equivalent to multiple CT scans) - 1 hour after radiation: 33% reduction in DNA...
Sarc041 Verzenio Trial Highlights Pfizer, Not Lilly Opportunities
MSKCC's Sarc041 trial of Verzenio being discussed at #Asco26 plenary right now... actually a really interesting study, but more for $PFE $ONC CDK4 inhibitors than for $LLY, I reckon. I covered it here (pawyalled, soz) -> https://t.co/I7ZspUFfBI
HIV in South Africa: Why Rolling Out a Groundbreaking New Shot Will Miss a Critical Group of Men
The U.S. shipped the first batch of lenacapavir, a long‑acting injectable HIV‑prevention shot, to South Africa in early April 2026, with rollout slated for June. Clinical trials show close to 100% efficacy with just two doses per year. The national...
Potency ≠ Durability: KRAS Inhibitors Finally Become Druggable
Our latest review from #ASCO26 explores KRAS inhibitors and why potency doesn't equal durability: https://t.co/5HBTWpGVH2 All is not what it seems. I still find it amazing what was one such an intractable target is now made druggable by a wide range of different...
Lupin Wins FDA Nod for Generic Sutab Colon Prep, Targeting $132.8M Market
Lupin Limited has secured U.S. FDA approval for its generic version of Sutab colon‑preparation tablets, becoming the exclusive first‑to‑file applicant and earning a 180‑day exclusivity period. The product targets a market that generated roughly $132.8 million in U.S. sales in 2026,...
Johnson & Johnson Gains FDA Approval to Expand TREMFYA Label for Psoriatic Arthritis
Johnson & Johnson announced that the FDA approved a supplemental Biologics License Application expanding TREMFYA’s label to include inhibition of structural joint damage in adults with active psoriatic arthritis. The update makes TREMFYA the only IL‑23 inhibitor with proven disease‑modifying...
ASCO 2026: Bayer Shares New Findings for NUBEQA® (Darolutamide) Regarding Cognitive Decline in Men with Advanced Prostate Cancer Compared to...
Bayer presented Phase II ARACOG trial data at ASCO 2026 showing that NUBEQA® (darolutamide) significantly limited cognitive decline in men with advanced prostate cancer compared with enzalutamide. Over 24 weeks, the median maximal cognitive domain change was –15.8% for darolutamide versus...
Phase III Trial Shows Sacituzumab Tirumotecan Boosts Lung Cancer Survival
Sichuan Kelun-Biotech reported that its antibody‑drug conjugate sacituzumab tirumotecan, combined with pembrolizumab, more than doubled 12‑month progression‑free survival in a Phase III trial of 413 NSCLC patients. The data, unveiled at the ASCO meeting in Chicago, could reshape first‑line treatment...
Altimmune Reports 23.7% Triglyceride Drop in Phase 2b MASH Trial
Altimmune Inc. released 48‑week Phase 2b IMPACT trial results showing pemvidutide cut triglycerides by 23.7% and cholesterol by 15.4% in 212 MASH patients, while participants lost an average of 7.5% body weight. The data were unveiled at the 2026 EASL...
Salubris Biotherapeutics Announces Updated Phase 1/2 Data for JK06, a 5T4-Targeted Antibody Drug Conjugate, at the 2026 American Society of...
Salubris Biotherapeutics presented updated Phase 1/2 data for JK06, a 5T4‑targeted antibody‑drug conjugate, at the 2026 ASCO meeting. The study treated 173 patients across dose‑escalation and expansion cohorts, reporting a 50% objective response rate (ORR) in squamous non‑small cell lung cancer...
Targeting BCL2: New Hope for Pancreatitis Therapy?
Researchers have identified the anti‑apoptotic protein BCL2 as a therapeutic target for acute pancreatitis, a condition that currently lacks disease‑modifying drugs. Preclinical studies using a selective BCL2 inhibitor demonstrated a marked reduction in pancreatic inflammation and cell death. Building on...
ARACOG Trial Links Enzalutamide to Greater Cognitive Decline Compared With Darolutamide: Alicia Morgans, MD, MPH
The phase‑2 ARACOG trial directly compared the cognitive impact of two androgen‑receptor pathway inhibitors in advanced prostate cancer. At 24 weeks, patients on darolutamide experienced a 15.8% decline on a neuropsychological test versus a 36.1% decline with enzalutamide. The advantage...
Eikon Therapeutics Presents Data on Clinical-Stage Programs at the 2026 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology
Eikon Therapeutics presented six ASCO 2026 abstracts highlighting late‑stage data for its lead candidates. In the Phase 2 TeLuRide‑005 trial, the TLR7/8 dual agonist EIK1001 combined with pembrolizumab and chemotherapy achieved a 63.1% objective response rate and a 90.8% disease‑control rate...
Tezepelumab Helps Severe Asthma Patients Reduce Oral Steroids over 28 Weeks
A Phase III SUNRISE trial published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine shows tezepelumab enables severe asthma patients to sharply cut their reliance on oral corticosteroids. Over 28 weeks, 69% of participants on the drug achieved at least a 50% dose reduction...
ITM Announces Phase 3 COMPETE Patient-Reported Quality of Life Data with N.c.a. ¹⁷⁷Lu-Edotreotide (ITM-11) Vs. Everolimus at ASCO 2026
ITM Isotope Technologies presented Phase 3 COMPETE patient‑reported quality‑of‑life data at ASCO 2026, showing that non‑carrier‑added ¹⁷⁷Lu‑edotreotide (ITM‑11) outperformed everolimus in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP‑NETs). In a cohort of 309 patients, the radiopharmaceutical maintained QoL scores (+0.9) while everolimus saw a decline...
Exelixis Announces Results From Subgroup Analysis of Phase 3 CABINET Pivotal Trial Evaluating CABOMETYX® (Cabozantinib) in Non-Functional and Functional Neuroendocrine...
Exelixis presented a subgroup analysis of the phase 3 CABINET trial at ASCO 2026, showing that CABOMETYX (cabozantinib) significantly extends progression‑free survival (PFS) in advanced neuroendocrine tumors (NET) regardless of functional status. In non‑functional NET, median PFS was 9.4 months versus 3.1 months on...
The Fascinating Properties of Ivermectin
The post spotlights new research on ivermectin’s anti‑cancer potential while revisiting its historic discovery and essential‑medicine status. It recounts the 2020 Monash in‑vitro study that showed a 5,000‑fold reduction of SARS‑CoV‑2, the 2020 Florida cohort linking the drug to lower...
Dual MC3R/MC4R Activation Triggers Weight Loss in Obese Male Primates
Researchers have demonstrated that simultaneous activation of melanocortin‑3 and melanocortin‑4 receptors produces marked weight loss and reduced food intake in obese male primates. The findings, published in Nature Communications, suggest a mechanistically distinct route to metabolic biohacking beyond current GLP‑1...
GSK’s Bepirovirsen Achieves Functional Cure in 19% of Hepatitis B Patients in Phase III Trials
GSK and Ionis reported that bepirovirsen produced a functional cure in 19% of participants across two Phase III studies of chronic hepatitis B. The antisense oligonucleotide cleared viral DNA for at least six months after treatment stopped, marking the first such result...
Immunome Announces Detailed Phase 3 RINGSIDE Data for Varegacestat in Adults with Progressing Desmoid Tumors at the 2026 ASCO Annual...
Immunome presented detailed Phase 3 RINGSIDE data for its gamma secretase inhibitor varegacestat at the 2026 ASCO meeting. The trial met its primary endpoint, showing an 84% reduction in progression‑free survival risk and a 56% objective response rate versus 9% with...
Encouraging Global Phase II Ivonescimab Data in First-Line Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Presented at ASCO 2026
Summit Therapeutics presented interim Phase II data from the AK112‑206 trial at ASCO 2026, evaluating ivonescimab combined with mFOLFOX6 in treatment‑naïve, microsatellite‑stable metastatic colorectal cancer. In 49 patients, the regimen achieved a 70.8% objective response rate and a disease control...
ENZAMET Trial Shows Veracyte’s Decipher Prostate Test Identifies Which Patients Benefit From Adding Chemotherapy in Metastatic Prostate Cancer
Veracyte’s Decipher Prostate genomic test was shown in the ENZAMET Phase III trial to predict which men with metastatic prostate cancer benefit from adding docetaxel to standard ADT + enzalutamide therapy. Patients with high Decipher scores (>0.85) and high‑volume disease experienced significantly better...
Tune Therapeutics Presents Positive Phase 1b/2a Proof of Concept Data on TUNE-401: A First-in-Class Epigenetic Silencer for Patients with Hepatitis...
Tune Therapeutics reported Phase 1b/2a data for TUNE‑401, an IV‑delivered LNP‑RNA epigenetic silencer, at the EASL 2026 Congress. The study showed dose‑dependent, durable repression of all key HBV biomarkers, including direct loss of cccDNA‑derived pgRNA and HBeAg in a subset of...
Regimen May Become ‘a Standard’ for Aggressive Lymphomas
A phase‑3 frontMIND trial showed that adding tafasitamab and lenalidomide to standard R‑CHOP cuts the risk of progression or death by 25% in newly diagnosed high‑risk diffuse large B‑cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and high‑grade B‑cell lymphoma. The experimental arm achieved 71%...
FDA Eyes PR Win with Rapid RVMD Approval
The FDA desperately needs a publicity win. Expect the $RVMD drug to be approved in record time.
STAT+: Revolution Medicines Starts Shipping Experimental Pancreatic Cancer Drug
Revolution Medicines has begun shipping its experimental pancreatic cancer therapy, daraxonrasib, to physicians through an FDA‑authorized early‑access program. The rollout follows Phase 3 data released in mid‑April showing patients lived nearly twice as long as those on standard chemotherapy—the longest survival...
Sirona Pill Cuts 400 Calories Daily, Shows 4% Weight Loss in Early Trial
Oxford Medical Products' Sirona capsule, which swells in the stomach to create a feeling of fullness, cut participants' daily calorie intake by about 400 kcal and delivered an average 4.4% body‑weight loss over 24 weeks. The early‑stage trial suggests a...
AD109 Sleep Apnea Pill Shows >50% Reduction in Episodes in Late‑Stage Trials
Biopharma firm Apnimed reported that its oral drug AD109 cut obstructive sleep apnea episodes by more than 50% in late‑stage trials. The result positions the pill as a potential first‑in‑class, non‑CPAP treatment for the roughly 80 million Americans with the disorder.
Replimune Shares Jump 82% After FDA Aligns on RP1 Melanoma Filing
Replimune Group, Inc. saw its shares climb 82.34% to $8.54 after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration signaled an urgent, prioritized review of the company’s RP1 (vusolimogene oderparepvec) melanoma therapy combined with nivolumab. The alignment clears the way for a...