Sharon Worcester

Birmingham

Reporter at MDedge Hematology and Oncology

Medical journalist. Writer. Believer in love and hope and science. Ally. Views my own. She/Her. Upcoming book: The Doctor As The Patient

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Articles

FDA Approves Penpulimab for Nasopharyngeal Cancer

2 weeks ago | medscape.com | Sharon Worcester

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved penpulimab-kcqx (Akeso Biopharma) in combination with cisplatin or carboplatin and gemcitabine as first-line treatment for adults with certain types of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), and as a single agent for certain patients with NPC disease progression on or after other treatments.
Cancer Deaths Down, but Incidence Rates Vary

2 weeks ago | medscape.com | Sharon Worcester

Overall cancer deaths in the United States continue to decline, but trends are mixed when it comes to deaths associated with specific cancer types and overall cancer incidence, according to the 2025 Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer.
FDA Approves Avastin Biosimilar Agent, Jobevne

1 month ago | mdedge.com | Sharon Worcester

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved bevacizumab-nwgd (Jobevne, Biocon Biologics Ltd), a biosimilar to bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech), for intravenous use across multiple cancer types. Approval was based on “a comprehensive package of comparative pharmacokinetic, safety, efficacy, nonclinical, structural, analytical and functional data, which confirmed the Jobevne is highly similar to Avastin,” according to a Biocon Biologics Ltd press release.
FDA OKs First-line Nivolumab + Ipilimumab in Advanced HCC

1 month ago | mdedge.com | Sharon Worcester

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved nivolumab (Opdivo, Bristol Myers Squibb) with ipilimumab (Yervoy, Bristol Myers Squibb) as a first-line treatment for adults with unresectable or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Radiation Oncology Reimbursement: New Bill Rocks the Boat

1 month ago | mdedge.com | Sharon Worcester

A renewed effort to modernize and stabilize Medicare reimbursement for radiation therapy services is underway. In mid-March, members of Congress reintroduced bipartisan federal legislation that would shift Medicare reimbursement for radiation oncology services from quantity-based payments to episode-based payments and help stabilize the declining rates of reimbursement in the field.
Radiation Oncology Reimbursement: New Bill Rocks the Boat

1 month ago | medscape.com | Sharon Worcester

A renewed effort to modernize and stabilize Medicare reimbursement for radiation therapy services is underway. In mid-March, members of Congress reintroduced bipartisan federal legislation that would shift Medicare reimbursement for radiation oncology services from quantity-based payments to episode-based payments and help stabilize the declining rates of reimbursement in the field.
FDA Approves Avastin Biosimilar Agent, Jobevne

1 month ago | medscape.com | Sharon Worcester

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved bevacizumab-nwgd (Jobevne, Biocon Biologics Ltd), a biosimilar to bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech), for intravenous use across multiple cancer types. Approval was based on “a comprehensive package of comparative pharmacokinetic, safety, efficacy, nonclinical, structural, analytical and functional data, which confirmed the Jobevne is highly similar to Avastin,” according to a Biocon Biologics Ltd press release.
FDA OKs First-line Nivolumab + Ipilimumab in Advanced HCC

1 month ago | medscape.com | Sharon Worcester

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved nivolumab (Opdivo, Bristol Myers Squibb) with ipilimumab (Yervoy, Bristol Myers Squibb) as a first-line treatment for adults with unresectable or metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Is Drug Holiday Safe in Metastatic Melanoma?

1 month ago | medscape.com | Sharon Worcester

Immune checkpoint (IC) inhibitor drug holidays are safe in patients with metastatic melanoma who achieve an objective response (OR) during therapy, according to a study of more than 200 patients in Poland. More than 80% of patients maintained disease control without progression at 24 months after discontinuing immunotherapy. Those who had received IC inhibitor therapy for at least 24 months and achieved a complete response (CR) during therapy had the best outcomes, Anna M.
FDA Approves Nivolumab + Ipilimumab for Certain CRC Patients

1 month ago | medscape.com | Sharon Worcester

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved nivolumab (Opdivo, Bristol Myers Squibb) with ipilimumab (Yervoy, Bristol Myers Squibb) for the treatment of adults and children aged 12 years and older with certain types of colorectal cancer (CRC). Specifically, the combination is approved for those with metastatic microsatellite-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) CRC, adding to the list of other indications for the combination therapy.