Health and Healthcare

Meet Pfizer's Newest FDA Designations

Wikimedia Commons

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) announced early on Monday that it received a couple critical updates from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The agency granted a Breakthrough Therapy designation for Pfizer’s Xalkori (crizotinib) for the treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with MET exon 14 alterations with disease progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy.

The FDA also granted Breakthrough Therapy designation for Xalkori for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma that is anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive.

Currently, Xalkori is approved in the United States for the treatment of patients with metastatic NSCLC whose tumors are ALK-positive or ROS1-positive as detected by an FDA-approved test. Xalkori became a first-line standard of care for ALK-positive metastatic NSCLC in its first approved indication and has proven to be a practice-changing treatment for patients with ALK-positive and ROS1-positive NSCLC globally.

Note that Xalkori is the only FDA-approved treatment indicated for both ALK-positive and ROS1-positive metastatic NSCLC. If approved in patients with metastatic NSCLC with MET exon 14 alterations, Xalkori will be the only tyrosine kinase inhibitor with demonstrated efficacy in three separate biomarker-driven indications in NSCLC.

Mace Rothenberg, M.D., chief development officer, Oncology, Pfizer Global Product Development, commented:

Biomarker-driven therapies have changed the way we treat cancer, helping to ensure that patients receive the right medicine for their disease. These Breakthrough Therapy designations for XALKORI exemplify our commitment to precision medicine development and delivering medicines that have the potential to transform the lives of patients whose cancers carry these genomic alterations.

Shares of Pfizer closed Friday at $35.68, with a consensus analyst price target of $39.60 and a 52-week range of $31.67 to $39.43.

100 Million Americans Are Missing This Crucial Retirement Tool

The thought of burdening your family with a financial disaster is most Americans’ nightmare. However, recent studies show that over 100 million Americans still don’t have proper life insurance in the event they pass away.

Life insurance can bring peace of mind – ensuring your loved ones are safeguarded against unforeseen expenses and debts. With premiums often lower than expected and a variety of plans tailored to different life stages and health conditions, securing a policy is more accessible than ever.

A quick, no-obligation quote can provide valuable insight into what’s available and what might best suit your family’s needs. Life insurance is a simple step you can take today to help secure peace of mind for your loved ones tomorrow.

Click here to learn how to get a quote in just a few minutes.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.