FDA Approves New Drug for Endometrial Cancer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted approval for a new immunotherapy drug, Jemperli, aimed at treating certain adult patients with endometrial cancer. Clinical trials have demonstrated that Jemperli significantly enhances both progression-free survival and overall survival rates among patients, according to Dr. Brian Slomovitz, a leading gynecologic oncologist at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Florida. This marks the third FDA approval for immunotherapy in endometrial cancer this year. In June, the FDA also approved Merck’s Keytruda (pembrolizumab) for use in combination with chemotherapy for patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer. Dr. Slomovitz highlighted that the Merck trial showed substantial improvements in progression-free survival. Additionally, AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi (durvalumab) received approval for patients with advanced or recurrent disease possessing a specific biomarker. The trials for these new cancer therapies were conducted by the GOG Foundation, a prominent cooperative group focused on gynecologic oncology research. Dr. Kathleen N. Moore from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center noted that even patients without the biomarker experienced significant improvements in time to progression, leading to FDA approvals in both biomarker settings. Experts in the field, including Dr. Shannon N. Westin from MD Anderson Cancer Center, expressed enthusiasm over the introduction of multiple new treatment options for advanced and recurrent endometrial cancer, emphasizing a shift towards precision medicine that can enhance survival rates for patients.