Product Code: 596200414
Malignant Melanoma: KOL Insight reveals the impact of immunotherapy on first-line treatment combination choices
The arrival of cancer immunotherapy in 2011 significantly changed the landscape for drugs used by oncologists for treating malignant melanoma . The availability of mutation testing is also impacting the choice of treatments, particularly for targeted therapies. With new approvals for Bristol-Myers Squibb's Opdivo and Amgen's T-VEC, the options available continue to grow
As the treatment landscape for malignant melanoma becomes more crowded , you need to understand how and why physicians are making complex decisions about their first-line drug choices. Find out what KOLs are saying about your brands, and the brands of your closest competitors.
Answering Key Questions
Recently marketed drugs and vaccines
- Yervoy (ipilimumab) : Will the drug's adoption, gained from early approval, be threatened by new arrivals with better response rates and reduced toxicity?
- Keytruda (pembrolizumab) : What role does dosing schedule play in driving preference for this drug?
- Opdivo (nivolumab) : What concerns still underlie the positive reception of this recently approved therapy?
- Cotellic (cobimetinib) : Does combination therapy offer a way forward, and will its use depend on side-effects or pricing?
- Mekinist (trametinib) : For patients with BRAF mutations, what will be the driving factor for selection of combination therapy, and will safety concerns outweigh this in treatment decisions?
- Zelboraf (vemurafenib) : What is the impact of not having an approved combination on its label in relation to its use as a first-line therapy?
- Tafinlar (dabrafenib) : Does its side-effect profile give it an edge, or will it lose out if a cobimetinib and vemurafenib combination becomes available?
- M-Vax : Has immunotherapy side-lined the role of vaccines in melanoma treatments because of the limited efficacy of vaccines? Or is it useful for a niche subset of patients?
- Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) : While some activity has been shown, and there is potential benefit for a niche patient group, is this enough to overcome the restrictions and challenges presented by this recently-approved vaccination?
Pipeline drugs and vaccines
- Masitinib : Should trials concentrate on the Far East where there is a higher-rate of c-KIT mutated melanoma in order to speed up possible access to an on-label option?
- Encorafenib : Is the safety profile going to be enough to get physicians to switch treatments in an already crowded field?
- Binimetinib : Is this just another 'me-too' third-line drug or do KOLs, waiting on Phase III trial results, think it has potential for NRAS-mutated patients?
- Zastumotide : The results of NSCLC data from an adjuvant setting is already colouring the view of this vaccine. Does it have any future as a malignant melanoma treatment?
- Seviprotimut-L (POL 103A) : KOLs are still asking big questions about this vaccine - especially about potential results. Will it find a place in the treatment paradigm?
- Eltrapuldencel-T : Will the complications of it as a treatment be a barrier to take-up if efficacy is proved?
Key Issues Explored
- Which combinations are KOLs preferring to use as first-line treatments based on efficacy, toxicity and patient profiles?
- How new drug combination approvals are likely to effect the first-line choice of treatments in future, and which KOLs are keen to be able to prescribe.
- Whether the practical difficulties with resources for testing patients with c-KIT mutations will outweigh the benefits of using a different treatment pathway for relevant patients? Or does this targeting offer a real niche market?
- What concerns exist about the sequencing of treatments?
- Where KOLs think the alternatives to immunotherapy will find their niche with particular populations.
- Some of the surprising factors that can influence choices - from availability of fridges and experience with injections, to paperwork and dosing schedules.
- A round-up of the latest clinical trials for each drug included.
Contributors
Expert knowledge and insights
KOLs from North America
- Dr Richard W. Joseph, MD. Assistant Professor of Oncology, Mayo Clinic Health System, Florida, USA.
- Dr Igor Puzanov, MD, MSCI, FACP. Associate Professor of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Dr Rene Gonzalez, MD. Professor of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, University of Colorado Denver, USA.
- Prof. Bartosz Chmielowski, MD, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, UCLA, CA, USA.
- Dr Anthony Olszanski, MD, RPh. Medical Oncologist, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Dr Stergios Moschos MD. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Medicine, UNC Lineberger, Carolina, USA.
KOLs from Europe
- Dr Nicolas Blin, MD. Consultant Physician at Nantes University Hospital, France.
- Dr J Mayordomo, Ph.D. Medical Director, Translational Research Unit, Albacete University Hospital, Spain.
- Dr Maria Elisabetta Fratto, MD. Oncologist, University Campus Bio Medico, Rome, Italy.
- German KOL, Prof. Dr. A chief consultant, head of the Clinical Cooperation Unit Dermato-oncology in the Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology at the University Hospital.
- Prof. Ruth Plummer, MA, DPhil, BMBCh, MD, FRCP. Consultant Medical Oncologist, Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals, UK.
- Dr Marianne Nicolson, MD, FRCP. Consultant, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Scotland, UK.
Ongoing Benefits
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Update Bulletins include expert insight and analysis based on FirstWord analyst re-engagement with the KOLs after major events such as product approvals, key data releases and major conferences to deliver the most valuable insights with each update.
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