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- 2025-12-27 05:14:55
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- 3 out of 10 executives, worries about poor performance
- by Chon, Seung-Hyun Jun 03, 2020 06:40am
- The executives working at the pharmaceutical company pointed out the poor performance after COVID-19 outbreak. Most people pointed out that the company should reduce its performance targets to minimize damage to COVID-19. On the 21st anniversary of its founding, Dailypharm conducted a survey of “Post COVID-19 Crisis Response Strategy” by 725 executives from pharmaceutical companies. Pharmaceutical executives responded to the question of what was the biggest inconvenience after the COVID-19 incident, with 228 respondents (31.4%) responding to poor performance due to face-to-face reduction. As patients are reluctant to visit medical institutions after the COVID-19 crisis, there is growing concern over the decline in prescription drug sales in pharmaceutical companies. In addition, pharmaceutical companies have expanded telecommuting since the spread of COVID-19, but concern about poor performance due to negligent account management has emerged as the biggest concern. 25% of respondents (181 people) pointed out anxiety about job cut. This means that there are many executives who are concerned about the reduction of manpower due to the restructuring due to changes in the way they work, such as expanding non-face-to-face work. Many respondents pointed out that the inefficiency of work due to telecommuting (17.9%), the strengthening of the company's surveillance and distrust of the boss (13.0%), and the deterioration of work and life balance (12.7%) due to the disappearance of the boundary between work and privacy were uncomfortable. Regarding the cost reduction plan to minimize the damage to COVID-19, 65.1% (472 people) of the pharmaceutical executives answered that they adjusted their sales amount such as lowering their targets. In COVID-19 crisis, it is the view that, in a situation where the economic recession is realizing, the crisis must be overcome by adjusting the company-wide goals. 8% (203) answered that they should cut costs by reducing operating expenses such as salary or marketing expenses. Over 10% of respondents said that they should consider reducing manpower (13.8%) and reducing investment (11.2%). Pharmaceutical executives agreed with COVID-19 to break away from traditional business methods. Regarding the direction of reorganization of sales and marketing strategies in the post-corona era, 40.3% (292 employees) of pharmaceutical companies said that they should strengthen online sales and marketing. As a result of the COVID-19 crisis, it is recognized that shrinking face-to-face sales and activating non-face-to-face sales are required, and strengthening IT-based face-to-face sales strategies is essential. 29.8% (216 people) said that it is necessary to find marketable products. Pharmaceuticals executives recognized that post-corona era workforce restructuring is expected. 61.1% (443) responded to the question that asked about opinions on the decline in jobs in the pharmaceutical industry after the COVID-19 crisis. In fact, 14.6% of executives predicted that the jobs in the pharmaceutical industry would drop significantly. 57% (413 people) said that the number of sales jobs would decrease the most. Also, 28.7% of respondents predicted that jobs would be reduced in office work such as personnel and management, which is expected to shrink due to the activation of non-face-to-face work. In the post-corona era, 40.1% of the respondents said that jobs in online IT-based jobs would increase. Also, 22.6% of respondents pointed to the expansion of marketing jobs. Pharmaceuticals executives also expressed negative views on the reorganization of the business method in the post-corona era. When asked whether to reduce face-to-face operations after COVID-19, more than half, 54.5% (395) said they could do as before. Although socially reluctant to face-to-face business, there are many conservative views that meeting with a doctor or pharmacist and conducting sales activities is more helpful for performance. According to the survey, 38.8% of respondents said that face-to-face sales should be reduced. About half of the executives (50.9%) predicted that the pharmaceutical industry would settle for telecommuting or flexible work. In the post-corona era, the reorganization of the way of working is a demand of the times. The employees of pharmaceutical companies expected that telecommuting or flexible work would increase work efficiency. 44.1% of respondents said that telecommuting or flexible work would improve work efficiency. This data is the result of a survey conducted by Dailypharm on 725 executives of pharmaceutical companies.
- Company
- Cancer Committee to review 3 signature drugs by BMS-Celgene
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Jun 03, 2020 06:25am
- On June 3, the Cancer Deliberation Committee is to review granting coverage on key products by the combined company of Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) and Celgene. Celgene’s multiple myeloma pipelines—Revlimid (lenalidomide) and Pomalyst (Pomalidomide)—and BMS’ immunotherapy Opdivo (nivolumab) plus Yervoy (ipilimumab) combination are on today’s agenda. Revlimid and Pomalyst each targeting different goals Revlimid, despite the Cancer Committee deferring the drug in last September, is trying the committee again with coverage extension as a maintenance therapy to prevent relapse in patients who had stem cell transplantation. Unlike last time, Celgene has apparently prepared more accommodating financial solution to offer. From a financial standpoint, Revlimid’s maintenance therapy does not strain NHI so much. Research data claims a patient who did not receive maintenance therapy after the transplantation comes to initiate the second-line therapy quicker than the patients who have. And the following second-line therapy uses at least two drugs combined, but the U.S. National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guideline and European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) recommend triple therapy including Revlimid. The recommended triple therapy is a combination of comparatively high-cost drugs like Revlimid, Kyprolis (carfilzomib), Empliciti (elotuzumab), Ninlaro (ixazomib) and Darzalex (daratumumab). Technically, using a single therapy for maintenance to delay the relapse would ultimately delay the high-cost triple therapy. Moreover, the already-reduced pricing of off-patent Revlimid would be additionally reduced when the reimbursement is extended to cover the maintenance therapy. Pomalyist, on the other hand, has applied for coverage review as a second-line therapy, in addition to its coverage on third-line therapy. The committee would review the combination therapy consisting of Pomalyst, Velcade (bortezomib) and dexamethasone for patients with multiple myeloma, who have previously received one or more treatment including Revlimid. Opdivo and Yervoy combination therapy tries renal cell carcinoma treatment Opdivo is focusing on a combination therapy with Yervoy. During the April Cancer Committee meeting, the reimbursement on Opdivo has been cleared for a second-line therapy for relapsed or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and a second-line therapy for classical Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL), but indication on second-line renal cell carcinoma therapy and third-line stomach cancer therapy have failed. But the committee would review Opdivo as a first-line therapy for renal cell carcinoma. Ono Pharmaceutical and Opdivo have technically given up on reimbursement on the non-small cell lung cancer indication after having a preliminary meeting with the government in May last year. But now the company has shifted its focus to different indications. At the moment, Sutene (sunitinib), Nexavar (sorafenib) Torisel (temsirolimus), Votrient (pazopanib) and Avastin (bevacizumab) are available for first-line treatment in patients with renal cell carcinoma, but the reimbursement is granted when choosing one among all options except for Avastin. The CheckMate-214 study has confirmed the Opdivo plus Yervoy combination therapy significantly improving the overall survival of the participating patients regardless of PD-L1 expression against the sunitinib group.
- Company
- AbbVie’s psoriasis drug Skyrizi NHI listed from June 1
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Jun 03, 2020 06:25am
- Another interleukin inhibitor has been listed for National Health Insurance (NHI) reimbursement. AbbVie Korea announced the Korean health authority is providing healthcare reimbursement on severe psoriasis treating interleukin-23 (IL-23) inhibitor Skyrizi (risankizumab) from June 1. The coverage would be granted to patients with chronic psoriasis at a severe level expressed for over six months, who show symptoms of plague psoriasis on 10 percent and more of their body surface area, score 10 or higher on Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and demonstrate no reaction to three months of or longer administration of methotrexate (MTX) or cyclosporine or cannot maintain the therapy due to adverse reaction, or demonstrate no reaction despite receiving photochemotherapy or UVB phototherapy for over three months or cannot maintain the therapy due to adverse reaction. Psoriasis is an immune-mediated disease resulted by abnormal activity of the body’s immune system. The disease causes a red, peeling rash spreading across the body. Apparently, patients with moderate to severe level of psoriasis, whose 10 percent of body surface area is covered with the rash and exfoliated sheets of skin, mentally suffer from other people’s social bias and misunderstanding as an infectious disease. According to data disclosed last year by National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), approximately 160,000 people in Korea have visited hospital in last five years due to psoriasis, and 20 percent of those people, or about 30,000, are struggling with severe case of psoriasis. Professor Youn Sang Woong of Department of Dermatology at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital said, “Skyrizi has outstanding benefit in skin condition improvement, safety and convenience, which would greatly help patients to achieve their most wanted goal of maintaining clean skin for a long time.” Skyrizi has confirmed efficacy and safety in treatment through four clinical trials including UltIMMa-1, UltIMMa-2, IMMvent and IMMhance studies. The UltIMMa-1 and UltIMMa-2 studies found 75 percent of patients using Skyrizi have reached 90 percent skin improvement (PASI 90) at week 16, and 36 percent and 51 percent of patient groups in respective studies have shown 100 percent skin improvement (PASI 100). Analyzing the patients who received Skyrizi during the two trials, the treatment effect in most of the patients who demonstrated PASI 90 and PASI 100 has been remained even after a year.
- Company
- 'Champix' sales rebounded 13% in one year
- by Kim, Jin-Gu Jun 03, 2020 06:25am
- ChampixPfizer's anti-smoking supplement Champix (Varenicline) has been successful in rebounding sales. It increased by 13% compared to the first quarter of last year. It is an analysis that it benefited from winning the patent dispute with generics. According to the drug analysis agency IQVIA on the 29th, the sales of Champix in the first quarter was ₩6.9 billion. This is a 13% increase from the first quarter of 2019, compared to ₩6.1 billion. In terms of quarterly sales, it has increased significantly since the second quarter of last year. It is analyzed as the result of winning the patent dispute with generics. Champix' salt modified drug was first released in November 2018. However, when the supreme court ruled in January 2019 that patent evasion of salt-modified drug was illegal in Solifenacin formulations, most of them were discontinued. In December of the same year, for the same reason as the judgment of Solifenacin, it was illegal to release the drug before changing the substance patent for the Champix salt modified drug. As a result of this ruling, domestic pharmaceutical companies' marketing has been suspended. However, from 3Q this year, it will resume competition with generics. This is because the material patent of Champix will expire on July 19th. This is because it is possible to re-engage generics that have previously avoided or invalidated the salt patent of Champix. It is estimated that 37 pharmaceutical companies are waiting for patent expiration with 85 items on the 29th. In addition, the application for permission to change salts has recently increased. Since January of this year, there have been a total of 12 items for the application of permission to change salts for Champix. Champix quarterly sales trend (₩100 million, data IQVIA) Although Champix sales rebounded, they haven't recovered to the extent of regaining the glory of the past. Champix once had quarterly sales of ₩21.4 billion (first quarter of 2017). Compared to that time, it is only a third. This is because the number of participants in the anti-smoking support project has steadily decreased and the drug price has been cut by nearly 40%. In November 2018, the NHIS lowered the drug price from ₩1,800 to ₩1,100.
- Company
- New anticancer drugs by Bayer have been approved in Korea
- by Eo, Yun-Ho Jun 02, 2020 06:09am
- Two new drugs of Bayer's anticancer drugs will enter the domestic market. Androgen Receptor Inhibitor (ARi), Nubeqa (Darolutamide), treatment for nmCRPC and Orbital Selective Tropomyosin Receptor Kinase (TRK) inhibitor, Vitrakvi (Larotretinib) was recently approved by the MFDS. Nubeqa is an androgen receptor inhibitor with a unique chemical structure. It binds to androgen receptors and suppresses the growth of prostate cells through strong antagonism. This domestic permit is based on ARAMIS, a phase III clinical study that compared and evaluated the effectiveness and safety of Nubeqa and placebo controls in combination with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). The study's main evaluation item, Metastasis-free Survival Period (MFS), was 40.4 months in Nubeqa and ADT combination groups, and demonstrated a significant improvement compared to 18.4 months in the placebo and ADT combination groups. Death risk was found to have decreased by 31% In addition, Vitrakvi has a high probability of severe morbidity during local, metastatic, or surgical resection among adult and pediatric patients who have a neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase (NTRK) gene fusion without a known acquisition-resistant mutation, and proceeds after existing treatments (or treatment regimens). It can be used for the treatment of patients with solid cancer who do not have a suitable treatment available or are currently available. The efficacy effect of Vitrakvi was approved on the basis of the overall response rate, and no clinical trials have demonstrated clinical benefits such as increased survival. This domestic permit includes clinical trials for adult and pediatric NTRK gene fusion advanced solid cancer patients (Phase I for adults 18 years of age and older, NAVIGATE Phase II for adults and children over 12 years of age, and primary CNS tumors). It is based on SCOUT Phase I/II trial in pediatric patients from 1 month to 21 years of age). According to the efficacy evaluation of a total of 55 patients in which NTRK gene fusion was confirmed from three clinical studies, Vitrakvi achieved an objective response rate (ORR) of 75% and a partial response rate (PR) of 53% in various carcinomas (soft tissue sarcoma, infantile fibrosarcoma, salivary gland cancer, thyroid cancer, lung cancer, melanoma, colon cancer, gastrointestinal stromal tumor)
- Company
- Prescription drop amid COVID-19 finally emerges in April
- by Chon, Seung-Hyun Jun 02, 2020 06:09am
- The outpatient prescription volume in April has dropped by 10 percent against the same month last year. The outcome contrasts to this year’s first quarter prescription volume showing an increase against last year. Although the COVID-19 confirmed case curve in Korea seems to have gone down from April, the prescription volume shrunk even worse. As chronic disease patients have received long-term prescription in the first quarter to avoid visiting healthcare institutes amid COVID-19, a long break in prescription has seemingly occurred in the month of April. According to pharmaceutical market research firm UBIST on May 25, the total outpatient prescription volume in April was at 1.19 trillion won, which was brought down by 8.7 percent than in last year. In 2018 and 2019, the April prescription volumes have surged by 8.3 percent and 13.1 percent, respectively, compared to the previous year, but it bounced back down in last April. The April prescription volume this year has hit the lowest point in ten months since June last year. Monthly outpatient prescription trend (Unit: KRW 100 million) Source: UBIST The pharmaceutical industry experts evaluate that the COVID-19 impact on the prescription market has finally surfaced in the month of April. Since the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Korea, the industry was deeply concerned that the prescription drug market would be shaken as pharmaceutical companies’ sales activities have been diminished and increasing number of outpatient refrained from visiting healthcare providers. But, the prescription volume up to March did not seem affected. Apparently, the prescription volume in the first quarter reached 3.70 trillion won, which was 2.7 percent higher than last year first quarter at 3.60 trillion won. The monthly prescription volume in January this year was dropped by 4.4 percent than last year by generating 1.22 trillion won. On the contrary, the February prescription volume this year was surged by 13.0 percent, generating 1.22 trillion. The industry experts analyze the number of business days in January and February have been affected by the early Lunar New Year holidays in Korea. This year’s January with less number of business days than last year had less prescription volume and February with more business days this year had increased volume. The total prescription volume in March was at 1.23 trillion won with 1.4 percent growth from last year. But the volume in April had the steepest fall so far in the year. In last year’s April, the prescription volume soared by 7.4 percent than the previous month, but this year’s April had a 3.2 percent dip from March. Many of chronic disease patients receiving long-term prescription to avoid visiting healthcare providers could have created a significant prescription drop in April. Apparently, the cases of patients receiving three to six months worth of prescription have skyrocketed when the confirmed case of COVID-19 peaked in Korea. The experts also suspect the postponed school semester, social distancing and better-managed personal hygiene could have reduced the disease prevalence in infants and children, which also affected the drop in the number of visit to healthcare institute. A majority of pharmaceutical companies in April had sluggish outcome in prescription volume. Among the top ten companies—Hanmi Pharmaceutical, Chong Kun Dang, Pifzer, Daewong Pharmaceutical, MSD, Novartis, Yuhan, Boehringer Ingelheim, HK inno.N and AstraZeneca—nine companies except for AstraZeneca had stagnating prescription volume in April than the year before. Top April outpatient prescription volume in 2020 by companies (Unit: KRW 100 million) Source: UBIST Hanmi Pharmaceutical recording the highest volume of prescription has made 52.9 billion won in April, falling down 8.7 percent than in last year. The Korean company’s first quarter volume was increased by 6.2 percent than in last year, but the volume was pulled back down in April. Chong Kun Dang and Pfizer’s April prescription volumes also had significant drop of 10.5 percent and 8.8 percent, respectively. Chong Kun Dang had a 1.7 percent growth in the first quarter, but the company took a steep fall in April. Pfizer’s first quarter prescription volume was dropped by 4.1 percent, and the figure got worse in April. The companies with the highest prescription volume, such as Daewoong Pharmaceutical, MSD, Novartis, Yuhan, Boehringer Ingelheim and HK inno.N, all performed worse than last year. Meanwhile, AstraZeneca made 9.3 percent more in this year’s April than last year. The multinational company’s first quarter prescription volume also grew by 9.7 percent from the year before. The pharmaceutical industry expects the prescription drug market would take a sharp upturn soon, as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has been dropping and the social distancing has been shifted to distancing in daily life.
- Company
- Ilyang’s Supect were approved for phase III in Russia
- by Lee, Seok-Jun Jun 01, 2020 06:19am
- Ilyang announced on the 28th that its domestically developed new drug, Supect, will be conducting phase III clinical trials in Russia for the purpose of treating COVID-19. According to the company, Supect received phase III approval of 'COVID-19 treatment' from the Russian government under the supervision of R-Pharm, the No. 1 company in the Russian pharmaceutical industry. R-Pharm pays all costs for the phase III, and Ilyang provides the clinical drug Supect. Clinical trials are conducted in 145 mild and severe COVID-19 confirmed patients from 11 institutions in Russia and neighboring Belarus. After two weeks of dosing, Supect’s significance of treatment effect will be confirmed. An official from Ilyang said that Supect is a domestically proven new drug that is the first clinical trial among domestic pharmaceutical companies, and is likely to be commercialized as a therapeutic agent faster than other candidates.
- Company
- KRPIA-MOHW talk negotiation, prioritized lisiting and PVA
- by Eo, Yun-Ho May 29, 2020 06:16am
- “Nothing was clarified, but we could somewhat feel out their approach.” For the first time since new Director Yang Yoon Seok was appointed, the Division of Pharmaceutical Benefits at Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) met with a couple of dozen Korean Research-based Pharmaceutical Industry Association (KRPIA) officials and multinational pharmaceutical company market access (MA) representatives on May 28. Along with Director Yang, Senior Deputy Director Lee Seon-joo and Deputy Director Choi Kyung-ho joined the meeting, where the organization officials and various pharmaceutical company representatives freely asked questions and spoke of their recommendations. Of all topics addressed, three main issues were discussed in-depth. Is pricing negotiation required for all drugs seeking for reimbursed pricing? The Korean government has notified earlier of implementing unified drug listing procedure. For all drugs evaluated to be appropriate for health insurance reimbursement, the government has mandated negotiation to finalize the listing decision. The change is crucial for Korean pharmaceutical companies and their generic products. But for multinational pharmaceutical companies, the change is a concerning issue for the drugs taking the negotiation-exempted track with pricing lower than weighted average price. The point of negotiation exemption system is speed. Technically, companies aiming to swiftly proceed with reimbursement listing take the negotiation exemption track and choose to price the drug on the level of negotiated price. But now the mandatory negotiation procedure could slow down the listing procedure. Regarding the concern, MOWH implied its intention to operate a flexible system. MOHW official said, “The government is also aware that not all drugs seeking for reimbursement would be fit for negotiation on projected claim amount. Depending on the circumstances, the negotiation condition may vary.” Is reimbursement listing prioritization making a leeway to neglect some drugs? The new drug pricing system also stipulates the Minister of Health and Welfare to decide the prioritized order of drug reimbursement listing. Currently, the reimbursement listing review by relevant committees like Drug Reimbursement Evaluation Committee has a limited period of 150 days. But the new prioritized reimbursement review would remove the time limit. The pharmaceutical industry is clearly worried about the amendment. Basically, the reimbursement listing procedure for a drug simply pursuing the benefit could be delayed indefinitely based on the prioritized order. The government seems to be aware of the concern. MOHW explained, “Only because a drug is expensive, or in other words, the drug has a significant financial impact, it would not be ruled out from the priority order. Some drugs could start the listing procedure fast, if need be. We are always pondering on how to improve new drug access.” Price-volume agreement system and labeled price A company representative also spoke of applying the ‘labeled price’ notion, used in the risk sharing agreement (RSA) system, for drugs lowering price due to price-volume agreement (PVA) system. In fact, the government already allows PVA drugs to apply refund rate. However, the benefit is only given to the companies certified as an innovative pharmaceutical company. And the multinational company official proposed the benefit should be extended. The government officials apparently answered with a positive note. The ministry official urged, “The recommendation is plausible and we would review the matter in detail. But, as you would be aware, changes in regulations cannot be rushed in a short span of time.”
- Company
- Alvogen Korea secures domestic rights for Evista
- by An, Kyung-Jin May 28, 2020 10:06am
- Alvogen Korea took over the domestic rights of 'Evista', an osteoporosis treatment for Takeda. Alvogen Korea announced on the 26th that it had obtained domestic permission for the osteoporosis treatment drug, Evista ( Raloxifene ) from Takeda Pharmaceuticals on the 25th. Evista is a second-generation estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) family and are oral drugs taken once a day. It is prescribed for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. At one time, sales were close to ₩15 billion a year, but sales of the complex have been plunged recently with the emergence of multiple combinations of vitamin D ingredients. According to the drug research agency IQVIA, Evista's sales last year were ₩6.4 billion. Since September 2018, Alvogen Korea has been in charge of domestic distribution and sales by signing a co-promotional agreement with Takeda Pharmaceuticals, which has domestic rights of Evista. Through this contract, Alvogen Korea has secured all rights for domestic licenses, exclusive distribution and marketing as a marketing authorization holder. Alvogen Korea announced its ambition to expand the influence of the specialized drug market by acquiring domestic rights, such as 'Seroquel', a treatment for schizophrenia, following the launch of 'Qsymia', an anti-obesity drug earlier this year. Lee Jun-su, CEO of Alvogen Korea, said, "With this agreement, we plan to firmly strengthen our expertise and market position in the field of osteoporosis treatment." "We will actively engage in marketing activities aimed at providing stable products and steady growth."
- Company
- K-Bio in ASCO 2020: Seeking the optimal combination
- by Choi sun May 27, 2020 06:07am
- From May 29, ten of Korean pharmaceutical and bio companies are to participate in the virtually held American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting (ASCO) 2020. GC Pharma, SillaJen, Genexine and many other Korean companies are planning to present various clinical study outcomes related to anticancer treatments. # The ASCO annual meeting invites approximately 40,000 oncology specialists around the world every year, but this year the event is to be convened online. The biggest theme of this year is seeking the optimal combination for anticancer therapy. Many of studies to be presented are focusing on improving the treatment utility better than the existing epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) targeted therapy through combination therapy. ASCO has chosen GC Pharma’s abstract reporting the interim findings of phase 1b/2a study on the novel targeted therapy ‘GC1118,’ in joint development with Mogam Institute for Biomedical Research, to be presented at the annual meeting. GC1118 is a novel monoclonal antibody targeting overexpressed EGFR. By binding with EGFR that triggers proliferation of tumor cell and metastasis, the targeted therapy inhibits proliferating cancer while promoting killing of tumor cells by activating lymphocytes. The phase 1b/2a study is testing the combination of GC1118 and other chemotherapies including irinotecan and FOLFIRI, which its interim findings are selected for poster presentation. On May 29, SillaJen is to publish an abstract as well. The Korean company’s study is testing combination therapy between SillaJen’s oncolytic virus Pexa-Vec and the U.S.-based company Regeneron’s immune checkpoint inhibitor Libtayo. The report could provide promising first human testing evidence raising anticipation on commercialization. NK Max developing targeted therapy ‘SNK01’ is unveiling three abstracts related to the anticancer treatment—interim report of phase 1/2a clinical study in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) conducted in Korea, interim report of phase 1 study in solid tumor conducted in the U.S., and study testing NK cell activity as a biomarker for Keytruda. The SNK01 plus Keytruda combination marked overall response rate (ORR) at 66 percent and confirmed improved effect against Keytruda monotherapy. The nine study subjects were divided into three in Keytruda monotherapy group and six in SNK01 plus Keytruda combination group. The ORR, showing the pharmaceutical treatment effect, reached 66 percent, in which four out of six patients demonstrated outstanding effect of lessening the tumor level. The three out of four that had positive treatment effect confirmed partial remission with 50 percent reduction in tumor cell and the other one resulted in partial remission with 30 percent reduction in tumor cell. Specifically, combining Keytruda seems to have improved adverse event issues, as well as treatment effect, of the immune checkpoint inhibitor. #Genexine is preparing to showcase interim outcome of phase 1b/2 clinical study testing the hyleukin-7 plus immune checkpoint inhibitor Keytruda (pembrolizumab) combination therapy in patients with advanced triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). It was a first clinical study to test hyleukin-7 combined with an immune checkpoint inhibitor. Also, MedPacto is to reveal phase 1 clinical data testing a transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) inhibitor vactosertib plus leukemia treatment imatinib to treat patients with Desmoid tumor. Testing the early anti-tumor activity of vactosertib combined with imatinib, the therapy reached ORR of 28.6 percent (two out of seven patients), which was significantly higher than the previously reported one-year response rate of imatinib monotherapy (11 to 13 percent). The combination therapy also demonstrated improved six-month progression free survival (PFS) at 100 percent, which was exceptionally higher than the imatinib monotherapy at 65 to 80 percent. Pharmabcine is announcing interim outcome of phase 1b study on neovascularization inhibitor olinvacimab combined with Keytruda treating patients with glioblastoma. Moreover, Yuhan has three abstracts to be presented at the ASCO annual conference regarding clinical studies with NSCLC treatment Lazertinib. The first abstract is to report phase 1/2 clinical trial testing anti-tumor effect and safety of administering 240 mg Lazertinib once-daily as a second-line therapy, and the second abstract is to report a subgroup analysis on 64 NSCLC patients with T790 mutation confirmed to have brain metastases receiving 20 mg to 320 mg of Lazertinib. The last abstract analyzes clinical genetics of resistance against Lazertinib. Cancer cells develop resistance against targeted therapy by inducing new genetic mutation. The study delves into types of resistant mutation against Lazertinib with 47 patients whose stage of cancer has advanced after receiving Lazertinib.
