Cancer & Hematology Centers of Western Michigan (CHCWM) and START Midwest were involved in three groundbreaking clinical trials that were presented at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC)’s 2019 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) in Barcelona, Spain last week. The three trials studied the effects of drugs Imfinzi, ONIVYDE® and LOXO-292 in lung cancer patients. Two of these studies, CAPSIAN and LIBRETTO-001, were showcased in WCLC’s Plenary Session, where the most important and high impact clinical results were presented.
CHCWM was a leading American site in AstaZeneca’s Phase III CASPIAN trail. AstraZeneca states the trial observed that Imfinzi (durvalumab) is the “first immunotherapy to show both significant survival benefit and improved, durable responses in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer.” Primary CHCWM employees involved in the study included principal investigator Dr. Yuanbin Chen, M.D., Ph.D.; study coordinator Penny Berger and data manager Karen Kuiper.
CHCWM was also a leading American site in Ipsen and Servier’s Phase II/III RESILIENT study, which observed ONIVYDE®’s effects on small cell lung cancer patients. In the presentation, Ipsen and Servier determined that “44 percent of patients achieved a response and nearly half (48 percent) maintained disease control at week 12.” Primary CHCWM employees involved in the study included principal investigator Dr. Yuanbin Chen, M.D., Ph.D.; study coordinator Penny Berger and data manager Karen Kuiper.
START Midwest also participated in Eli Lilly and Company’s landmark registrational Phase I/II trial LIBRETTO-001 study, which observed the effects of LOXO-292 in patients with RET fusion-positive lung cancers. LOXO-292 reported a 68 percent response rate in heavily pre-treated patients with average duration of response being over 20 months. Because of this, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted the drug “breakthrough designation.”
Founded in 1979, CHCWM has grown to become the largest physician-owned oncology and hematology practice in Michigan. We deliver advanced care in a personal way, and our expertise and caring approach make us dedicated to the help, healing and hope for cancer patients and their families. Thanks to the hard work of our growing staff, CHCWM has been named one of the Nation’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For®.
START Midwest, located at CHCWM’s East, is part of START’s global network of Phase I clinical research sites. It is the largest Phase I oncology drug development program in Michigan and one of the largest in the Midwest. It offers cancer patients access to cutting-edge clinical trial drugs, including immunotherapy and targeted therapy options.
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