The Rasonque pancreatic cancer treatment from Revolution Medicines has received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for certain patients with metastatic disease. The once-daily oral medicine, also known as daraxonrasib, is approved for patients who have received previous treatment or cannot undergo combination chemotherapy. It targets several forms of the RAS protein, which plays a significant role in driving…
Tag: Cancer Treatment
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Cancer Heat Therapy: R57m Public Health Rollout
A R57 million funding drive could determine whether a South African cancer treatment is adopted in the public healthcare system. Cancer heat therapy has been shown to improve survival and reduce long-term costs. Dr Carrie Minnaar, a South African researcher specialising in oncologic hyperthermia, is leading plans to install six modulated electro-hyperthermia (mEHT) devices at three public hospitals over the…
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mRNA Vaccines Show Promise in Personalised Therapy
Cancer vaccines based on mRNA technology are showing encouraging results against some of the world’s hardest-to-treat cancers, including melanoma, pancreatic cancer and glioblastoma. The same technology used to develop COVID-19 vaccines at record speed is now being tested to train the immune system to recognise and destroy cancer cells. In addition, researchers say the field has become one of the…
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FDA Biosimilar Development Guidance Targets Treatment Costs
\n\nBiologic medicines are made from living cells and are among the most expensive therapies available. While they account for only 5% of all prescriptions, they are responsible for a staggering 51% of total drug spending in the United States. To address this imbalance, the FDA is prioritising the expansion of the biosimilar market.\n\n\n\nThe new FDA biosimilar development guidance focuses on…
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Court Orders Cancer Treatment to End Backlog
The Gauteng High Court has ordered the provincial Department of Health to immediately tackle the severe oncology backlog, ruling that their appeal cannot delay life-saving treatment for cancer patients. The Gauteng High Court delivered a crucial judgment yesterday, ordering the provincial department of health (GDoH) to enforce a plan to clear its cancer treatment backlog immediately. The court ruled that…
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Immunotherapy for Cancer and Early-Stage Success
Ground-breaking advancements in immunotherapy are poised to transform cancer care. New data reveal the effectiveness of these immune-boosting drugs in treating a wider range of cancers at their earlier stages. Previously established as life-extending treatments for advanced diseases, drugs such as Bristol Myers Squibb’s Opdivo, AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi, and Roche’s Tecentriq are now demonstrating significant promise. They are preventing recurrence and…
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Gauteng Cancer Treatment Backlog: Court’s Urgent Ruling
The Gauteng High Court has ordered immediate action. This ruling addresses a severe public health crisis. It concerns the Gauteng cancer treatment backlog. Thousands of cancer patients have been waiting for care. They need urgent radiation oncology services. The order directly impacts Charlotte Maxeke and Steve Biko Academic Hospitals. For many vulnerable patients, this decision offers a critical lifeline. It…