The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently gave its stamp of approval to GSK’s Jemperli (dostarlimab-gxly), a new treatment for women suffering from primary advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer. This groundbreaking medication will help countless women fight against this formidable disease and marks an important milestone in their journey to a healthier future.
The FDA has just given a green light to a powerful combination of Jemperli, carboplatin and paclitaxel, followed by Jemperli alone, to be used in conjunction with an FDA-approved test for mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR) or microsatellite instability (MSI-H). With this approval, the potential for more personalized and effective cancer treatment expands!
Jemperli has made history as the first immuno-oncology treatment approved for frontline use in certain patient populations, ushering in a new wave of hope in PD-1 inhibitor technology from GSK.
Traditionally, chemotherapy has been the only available treatment for those suffering from dMMR/MSI-H primary advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer, however, disease progression for many patients was still seen. Now, however, GSK’s treatment landscape for these patients has been redefined with expanded approval of this new option. Hesham Abdullah, GSK’s senior vice president and global head of oncology development, said in a statement that there is now hope for these patients.
Jemperli is a novel, revolutionary anti-PD-1 antibody therapy that has revolutionized the fight against endometrial carcinoma. Approved in April 2021, this groundbreaking treatment works by disrupting the interaction between the PD-1 receptor and its corresponding ligands. This disruption helps the immune system to recognize and destroy the tumor cells. By enabling the body’s own immune system to target the cancer, Jemperli is quickly becoming a life-saving aid for those suffering from recurrent or advanced dMMR endometrial carcinoma.
This Monday marked a big victory in women’s health; GSK’s supplemental Biologics License Application for Jemperli was accepted by the FDA and given Priority Review with a target action date of September 23, two months ahead of schedule. Women in frontline settings can now take advantage of the tremendous benefit this product can offer.
A swift approval from the FDA has buoyed the hopes of many cancer patients with dMMR/MSI-H disease. An interim analysis of data from the first part of the Phase III RUBY trial showed that the Jemperli regimen significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS), with a 71% drop in the risk of disease progression or death. Over a median follow-up of at least 25 months, hope is on the horizon for those afflicted.
Jemperli is now one step ahead of Keytruda in the endometrial cancer arena following Monday’s regulatory approval, but Merck’s blockbuster PD-1 blocker may reclaim the lead. Data from the Phase III NRG-GY018 study suggests that Keytruda achieved a promising 70% improvement in PFS over just 12 months of follow-up. This could be the comeback Merck needs for their drug to once again reign supreme in the endometrial cancer treatment realm.
Jemperli showed a 24% decrease in disease progression or death among MMR-proficient patients after two years, compared to Keytruda’s remarkable achievement of a 46% reduction after just 12 months!
No head-to-head comparison exists between the RUBY and NRG-GY018 trials, making it impossible to draw any firm conclusions through cross-study comparisons. With their vastly different methods, it is difficult to make meaningful comparisons between the two.