May 30 Clinical Quick Takes: Cancer report shows decline in mortality from melanoma; plus Cara, Novartis
Decrease in mortality from melanoma attributed to checkpoint inhibitors
The rate of death due to melanoma of the skin declined by 8.5% per year during 2014-16 among men and 6.3% per year in 2013-16 among women, likely reflecting the introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors, according to a report published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute by the NCI, CDC, American Cancer Society and North American Association of Central Cancer Registries. FDA approved Yervoy ipilimumab for melanoma in 2011 and Keytruda pembrolizumab and Opdivo nivolumab in the indication in 2014.
Cara pruritus therapy meets in first Phase III
Korsuva (CR845/difelikefalin) Injection from Cara Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:CARA) met the primary endpoint of improving itch intensity from baseline to week 12 vs. placebo in the Phase III KALM-1 trial to treat hemodialysis patients with moderate to severe chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus (p=0.000019). Data from the Phase III KALM-2 trial of the long-acting peripheral κ opioid receptor (KOR; OPRK1) agonist are expected next half, with an NDA to FDA slated to follow soon after...