Novartis, Regeneron, J&J: Cancer Research Updates
- Novartis is seeking regulatory approval to expand the use of its prostate cancer drug, Pluvicto, to earlier stages of treatment.
- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) previously approved Pluvicto for use before chemotherapy, a decision that could significantly boost the drug's sales.
- The field of radiopharmaceuticals is also exploring combination therapies with drugs like antibody-drug conjugates and PARP inhibitors.
Breaking news from the front lines of cancer research: Novartis is pushing Pluvicto for earlier-stage prostate cancer treatment, significantly extending progression-free survival in trials. Johnson & Johnson is making waves with Rybrevant for lung cancer and groundbreaking work on TAR-200 for bladder cancer. Meanwhile, Regeneron’s obesity drug combination shows promise, but safety concerns have emerged. This update from News Directory 3 covers the latest breakthroughs and potential advancements in oncology. With the FDA’s previous approval of Pluvicto, anticipate a boost in sales and exploration of radiopharmaceutical combination therapies. Learn about J&J’s ambitions and Regeneron’s next steps. Discover what’s next for these pharmaceutical giants and their efforts to combat these diseases.
Novartis’ pluvicto Aims for Earlier Use in prostate Cancer Treatment; J&J Outlines Oncology Ambitions
Updated June 03, 2025
Novartis is seeking regulatory approval to expand the use of its prostate cancer drug, Pluvicto, to earlier stages of treatment. The company reported positive Phase 3 trial results showing that Pluvicto significantly extended progression-free survival in patients who had not yet undergone chemical castration. Full data will be presented at a future medical meeting.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) previously approved Pluvicto for use before chemotherapy, a decision that could significantly boost the drug’s sales. Shreeram Aradhye, chief medical officer, noted the importance of delaying chemical castration, a major concern for prostate cancer patients.
The field of radiopharmaceuticals is also exploring combination therapies with drugs like antibody-drug conjugates and PARP inhibitors. Investigator-initiated trials are currently underway to assess these combinations.
Separately, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) R&D chief John Reed discussed the company’s oncology ambitions, emphasizing Rybrevant’s potential in EGFR-mutated lung cancer and the innovative TAR-200 drug-device combination for bladder cancer, which demonstrated an 83.5% complete response rate.reed also voiced concerns about the potential brain drain in the U.S., advocating for policies that encourage talented individuals to remain in the country.
“We’re importing talent, and we need that talent to come in. We don’t have enough that we’re growing organically in this country, and we should make it easy for them to stay, not kick them out,” Reed said.
Meanwhile, Regeneron’s COURAGE trial is evaluating a combination therapy for obesity using semaglutide with trevogrumab and garetosmab. Interim data suggests improved weight loss quality with muscle preservation and increased fat loss compared to semaglutide alone. However, the trial also reported an increase in adverse events, including two deaths, raising tolerability concerns.
What’s next
Novartis will continue to work with regulators to expand Pluvicto’s availability.J&J will focus on developing its oncology pipeline. Regeneron plans to release full data from its Phase 2 obesity study later this year.