Health
Ovarian cancer treatment on fast track for FDA approval as chemo alternatives emerge: 'We're making progress'
A new wave of cancer treatments is looking promising for the future of oncologic care.
The ovarian cancer drug RC88, which is made by the Chinese biopharmaceutical company RemeGen, received FDA approval for Phase 2 clinical trials earlier this month.
The drug received fast-track designation (FTD) for the treatment of “platinum-resistant recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancers,” the company confirmed to Fox News Digital.
CERVICAL CANCER DRUG RAISES SURVIVAL RATE BY 30% COMPARED TO CHEMOTHERAPY: ‘GAME-CHANGER’
RC88 is an anti-drug conjugate (ADC) designed to treat aggressive ovarian cancers in patients with “poor prognosis,” according to the company.
An ADC is “a class of drugs designed as a targeted therapy for treating disease,” per the National Institutes of Health.
RC88 aims to treat aggressive ovarian cancers in patients with a poor prognosis, according to RemeGen, the China-based company that makes the drug. (iStock)
The drug targets mesothelin, a protein found in tumors.
“This development is not just a scientific advancement, but a beacon of hope for countless women battling this formidable disease,” a RemeGen spokesperson said in an email to Fox News Digital.
RemeGen intends to launch international and multicenter clinical studies in the U.S., China, the European Union and other regions, according to a press release.
The new drug received fast-track designation (FTD) for the treatment of “platinum-resistant recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancers,” RemeGen confirmed to Fox News Digital. (iStock)
The clinical trials will study participants in multiple countries to determine optimal dosage, effectiveness and safety of the treatment.
RC88’s clinical data findings are slated to be released at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in May 2024 in Chicago.
BREAST CANCER BREAKTHROUGH: AI PREDICTS A THIRD OF CASES PRIOR TO DIAGNOSIS IN MAMMOGRAPHY STUDY
Dr. Brian Slomovitz, director of gynecologic oncology and co-chair of the Cancer Research Committee at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Florida, is familiar with RemeGen’s treatment, noting that anti-drug conjugates have surfaced as a “relatively new class of drug.”
He told Fox News Digital in an interview, “[It] definitely has a lot of promise,” noting also that there have been many more failures than successes.
Brian Slomovitz, M.D., is director of Gynecologic Oncology and co-chair of the Cancer Research Committee at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Florida. He noted the “promise” of the ovarian cancer drug RC88. (Mount Sinai Medical Center)
Among those successes is an ADC drug called Elahere (mirvetuximab soravtansine-gynx), which is indicated for FRa positive, platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or peritoneal cancer.
The FDA granted accelerated approval for Elahere in Nov. 2022, according to an agency press release.
Other ADCs in development include a drug called TIVDAK for cervical cancer as well as anti-HER2 treatments for breast cancer, according to Slomovitz.
ULTRA-PROCESSED FOOD CONSUMPTION LINKED TO HIGHER RISK OF DEATH FROM OVARIAN, BREAST CANCERS: NEW STUDY
“It’s going to be much more effective than [chemo drug] Herceptin,” he predicted. “So, it’s really a novel class [of drugs] that go into the cells in a unique way.”
Phase 3 clinical trials of TIVDAK (tisotumab vedotin) were linked to a 30% overall reduction in the risk of death compared to chemotherapy.
A cancer doctor described ADC approaches to treating cancer as a “novel class [of drugs] that go into the cells in a unique way.” (iStock)
In a previous interview with Fox News Digital, Dr. Kathleen Moore, associate director of clinical research at Stephenson Cancer Center in Oklahoma City, shared that the TIVDAK therapy has been effective in shrinking her own patients’ tumors.
“In the past, we just did not have active medications and our patients really were left with ineffective therapies, and they just died,” she said. “They’re feeling better because their disease is shrinking.”
OVARIAN CANCER COULD BE DETECTED EARLY WITH A NEW BLOOD TEST, STUDY FINDS
During the 2023 European Society of Medical Oncology Congress in Madrid, Spain, Moore presented another ADC treatment called raludotatug deruxtecan (R-DXd), which was confirmed as “efficacious” by the National Library of Medicine in treating ovarian and kidney cancers.
As ovarian cancer develops, the level of mesothelia increases — which gives RC88 its “unique” target.
“R-DXd is the first ADC targeting CDH6, [which has been] tested in ovarian cancer and demonstrates very strong signals of efficacy,” Moore said in her data presentation, according to OncLive, the Oncology Specialty Group’s website.
Seventy percent of women who were diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) have already reached an advanced stage, according to RemeGen.
Phase 3 clinical trials of TIVDAK (tisotumab vedotin) were linked to a 30% overall reduction in the risk of death compared to chemotherapy. (iStock)
EOC remains a “significant cause of cancer deaths among women,” as there are “no effective screening methods” and most patients experience a relapse within two years, the company added.
As ovarian cancer develops, the level of mesothelia increases — which gives RC88 its “unique” target, the RemeGen press release stated.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
The FDA’s approval of RC88 as an investigational new drug “marks a pivotal moment in our commitment to address the challenges of platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer,” RemeGen CEO Dr. Jianmin Fang wrote in a statement to Fox News Digital.
RemeGen calls RC88 — given its “unique targeting mechanism” — a “beacon of hope for countless women battling this formidable disease.” (iStock)
“Our focus remains on developing innovative treatments that can significantly improve patient outcomes in areas with critical unmet needs,” he said.
“RC88, with its unique targeting mechanism, exemplifies our dedication to pioneering advancements in cancer therapy.”
It’s important that ADCs are continuously studied, Slomovitz noted, as the bar for approval is “getting higher and higher.”
He added, “The good news is, we’re making progress.”
For more Health articles, visit foxnews.com/health.
Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menu items.
Use escape to exit the menu.
Sign Up
Create a free account to access exclusive content, play games, solve puzzles, test your pop-culture knowledge and receive special offers.
Already have an account? Login
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Yoga is known to boost relaxation, strength and flexibility – and now a new study has found the practice could improve cancer survivors’ quality of life.
A randomized trial led by the University of Rochester Medical Center found that a four-week yoga program significantly reduced insomnia, fatigue, anxiety and mood disturbances after cancer treatment.
The findings were presented last week at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago.
CANCER SURVIVORS MAY SEE SURPRISING BENEFITS FROM ONE SPECIFIC EXERCISE, STUDY SAYS
The study was conducted across multiple U.S. community cancer care sites, including 410 adult cancer survivors averaging 54 years of age. Around 75% were breast cancer survivors, and none of them had practiced yoga regularly within the prior three months.
A randomized trial led by the University of Rochester Medical Center found that a four-week yoga program significantly reduced insomnia, fatigue, anxiety and mood disturbances in cancer survivors. (iStock)
The participants were randomly assigned to two groups. Half of them received only standard survivorship care without the yoga, while the other half received standard care and were also enrolled in the Yoga for Cancer Survivors (YOCAS) program.
As part of the YOCAS program, the survivors completed two instructor-led 75-minute yoga sessions each week, including 18 Gentle Hatha yoga and Restorative yoga poses, breathing exercises and mindfulness training.
EATING MORE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES LINKED TO SURPRISING EFFECT ON SLEEP
Based on questionnaires completed by the patients, the survivors in the yoga group experienced “moderate-to-large” reductions in overall mood disturbance, “small-to-medium” reductions in anxiety and “medium-to-large” reductions in fatigue, the study found.
The improvements in mood and fatigue appeared to be linked to yoga’s beneficial effect on sleep quality, according to the researchers.
As part of the YOCAS program, the survivors completed two instructor-led 75-minute yoga sessions each week, including 18 Gentle Hatha yoga and Restorative yoga poses, breathing exercises and mindfulness training. (iStock)
“This indicates that cancer survivors have an option to alleviate these cancer-related side effects at the same time, without adding another drug,” lead investigator Yuri Choi, PhD, of the Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, in Rochester, New York, told Fox News Digital.
The study did not reveal any major safety concerns or serious adverse events related to the yoga practice.
“This indicates that cancer survivors have an option to alleviate these cancer-related side effects at the same time, without adding another drug.”
The study did have some limitations, chiefly that the findings are preliminary and have not yet been peer-reviewed for a medical publication.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
“The sample in our clinical trial was relatively homogeneous, with most participants being women (96%), breast cancer patients (75%), Caucasian (93%), and having some college or higher education (82%),” noted Choi.
“We are adapting our intervention to reach all cancer patients and survivors, including the creation of a mobile app to reach people in rural communities.”
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
The research also excluded patients with metastatic cancer (whose disease had spread to other parts of the body).
The total study was only four weeks, so more research is needed to determine long-term benefits.
If the findings are confirmed by peer-reviewed publications, this could lead to recommendations for structured yoga programs as a non-drug supportive therapy for cancer survivors, the researchers noted. (iStock)
If the findings are confirmed by peer-reviewed publications, this could lead to recommendations for structured yoga programs as a non-drug supportive therapy for cancer survivors, the researchers noted.
Some yoga studios may use different names for Gentle Hatha and Restorative yoga, such as Foundations Yoga or Healing Yoga, Choi noted.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“Survivors should also look for certified yoga instructors who have experience working with cancer patients/survivors or individuals with other challenging health conditions,” the researcher advised. “They should not be afraid to ask their oncology team for referrals to qualified instructors in their community.”
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
Choi also noted that the research did not reveal whether other types of yoga, such as heated-room or rigorous-flow yoga, are safe or beneficial for cancer survivors.
The study was funded by the National Cancer Institute.
Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menu items.
Use escape to exit the menu.
Sign Up
Create a free account to access exclusive content, play games, solve puzzles, test your pop-culture knowledge and receive special offers.
Already have an account? Login
-
Iowa3 minutes agoZach Lahn projected to win Iowa GOP governor primary, upsetting Trump’s pick in a state Democrats hope to flip
-
Kansas8 minutes agoBat Cats defeat Kansas Cannons, 4-1
-
Kentucky15 minutes agoUK Healthcare prepares to become Kentucky’s only Level 2 special pathogen treatment center
-
Louisiana18 minutes agoHeart of Louisiana: Civilian Conservation Corps
-
Maine23 minutes agoOpinion: Owen McCarthy offers Maine Republicans real change
-
Maryland30 minutes agoMaryland Dem lawmaker runs taxpayer-funded nonprofit with audit struggles
-
Michigan33 minutes agoResidents in Taylor, Michigan, fight against possible rezoning
-
Massachusetts38 minutes agoMassachusetts high school under investigation after teachers diagnosed with breast cancer
