FDA Drug Approvals for Cancer in 2014

On February 12, 2014, the FDA granted accelerated approval to ibrutinib (Imbruvica) for the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who have received at least one prior therapy.

On April 17, 2014, the FDA approved ofatumumab (Arzerra) in combination with chlorambucil for the treatment of previously untreated patients with CLL, for whom fludarabine-based therapy is considered inappropriate. Image source: GlaxoSmithKline (left); Nephron (right).

On April 21, 2014, the FDA approved ramucirumab (Cyramza) for use as a single agent for the treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic, gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma with disease progression on or after prior treatment with fluoropyrimidine- or platinum-containing chemotherapy. Image source: Eli Lilly (left).

On April 23, 2014, the FDA approved siltuximab (Sylvant) for the treatment of patients with multicentric Castleman disease who are human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) negative and human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8) negative. Image source: Janssen Biotech, Inc (left); Nephron (right).

On April 28, 2014, the FDA approved an oral suspension of mercaptopurine (Purixan) for the treatment of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) as part of a combination regimen. Image source: Furfur, Wikimedia Commons (right).

On April 29, 2014, the FDA granted accelerated approval to ceritinib (Zykadia) for the treatment of patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive, metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with disease progression on or who are intolerant to crizotinib.

On July 3, 2014, the FDA granted accelerated approval to belinostat (Beleodaq) for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma. Image source: Topotarget.

On July 23, 2014, the FDA approved idelalisib (Zydelig) for the treatment of patients with relapsed CLL, in combination with rituximab, for whom rituximab alone would be considered appropriate therapy due to other comorbidities.

On August 14, 2014, the FDA approved bevacizumab solution for intravenous infusion (Avastin) for the treatment of persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer, in combination with paclitaxel and cisplatin or paclitaxel and topotecan. Image source: Roche (left); Nephron (right).

On September 4, 2014, the FDA granted accelerated approval to pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma and disease progression following ipilimumab and, if BRAF V600 mutation positive, a BRAF inhibitor. Image source: Merck.

On November 5, 2014, the FDA expanded the indication of ramucirumab (Cyramza) to include its use in combination with paclitaxel for the treatment of patients with advanced gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma. Image source: Eli Lilly (left).

On November 14, 2014, the FDA approved bevacizumab solution for intravenous infusion (Avastin) in combination with paclitaxel, pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, or topotecan for the treatment of patients with platinum-resistant, recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer. Image source: Roche (left); Nephron (right).

On December 3, 2014, the FDA granted accelerated approval for blinatumomab (Blincyto) for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-negative relapsed or refractory B-cell ALL. Image (left): Blinatumomab linking a T cell to a malignant B cell, source: Anypodetos, Wikimedia Commons. Image (right): Bone marrow aspirate smear of precursor B-cell ALL; source: Dybdal, Wikimedia Commons.

On December 4, 2014, the FDA approved ruxolitinib (Jakafi) for the treatment of patients with polycythemia vera who have had an inadequate response to or are intolerant of hydroxyurea.

On December 12, 2014, the FDA approved ramucirumab (Cyramza) for use in combination with docetaxel for the treatment of patients with metastatic NSCLC with disease progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy. Image source: Eli Lilly (left); Yale Rosen (right).

On December 16, 2014, the FDA approved lanreotide (Somatuline Depot Injection) for the treatment of patients with unresectable, well or moderately differentiated, locally advanced or metastatic gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors to improve progression-free survival. Image source: Ipsen Pharma.

On December 19, 2014, the FDA granted accelerated approval to olaparib (Lynparza), a new drug treatment for women with advanced ovarian cancer associated with defective BRCA genes, as detected by an FDA-approved test. Image source: James Heilman, MD (right).

On December 22, 2014, the FDA granted accelerated approval to nivolumab (Opdivo) for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma who no longer respond to other drugs.