THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

Drug development and clinical research methods evolve continuously through establishment of new regulations and through adaptations to changes in treatment accessibility, technology, evolving knowledge in biology, and appearance of new diseases. 

Patient-centric trials, in which the perspective of the patient is considered in study design and performance, is one such new approach in clinical research that primarily focuses on reducing patient burden. 

In 2021, FDA has so far approved six antibodies against PD-1 or PD ligand 1 (PD-L1) for more than 75 indications. Ipilimumab remains the only FDA approved anti-CTLA-4 antibody, in melanoma indications and, in combination with nivolumab (an anti-PD‑1 antibody), in a number of other indications.

Basic research in the 1990’s showed that antibodies aimed at a cell surface marker called cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) stimulated an immune response that resulted in the killing of the tumor cells. Another cell marker, programmed death-1 (PD-1), was found to have the ability to prevent the immune system from killing cancer cells. These discoveries led to the development of cancer therapy using inhibition of negative immune regulation.

Four former FDA commissioners and Dr. Peter Marks, the FDA official responsible for the oversight of vaccines, shared their thoughts on the FDA’s role in ensuring the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines under extraordinary circumstances, in the ongoing pandemic.

The event, entitled “Safe and Effective COVID-19 Vaccination: The Path from Here” was hosted by the Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy on September 10, 2020.  The speakers discussed the mountain of challenges across all aspects of developing and distributing a vaccine under expedited timelines: testing, reviewing, approving, monitoring safety events, and the logistics of distribution for vaccines that may require specialized storage conditions.

Quick – What is BIMO? Is it a flying superhero? Is it an energy drink? Is it the next reality TV show? (Well, it is reality.) Here is a brief overview of BIMO and how it came to be.