Product Launch Tracker: Delight for clinical investigator as first telomerase inhibitor approved

Throughout June 2024 CREATION.co tracked the global conversations of 1,382 healthcare professionals (HCPs) who posted 2,180 times about the launches and approvals of new products.

In June, 332 more HCPs discussed treatment approvals on social media than in May, publishing 49% more posts during that time.

On 7 June, more than 50 HCPs discussed the FDA approval of Geron Corporation’s Rytelo for adults with low- to intermediate-1 risk myelodysplastic syndromes, the first telomerase inhibitor to receive a nod from the FDA. Dr Amer Zeidan was one of the investigators on Rytelo’s IMerge trial and an avid social media user. He commented “Few things in a clinical investigator’s career matter as much as touching the lives of many patients he will never see by getting a good drug approved!” to which he received hearty congratulations from his peers.

Few things in a clinical investigator’s career matter as much as touching the lives of many patients he will never see by getting a good drug approved! FDA approves imetelstat for lower risk myelodysplastic syndromes #MDSsm w transfusion-dependent anemia https://t.co/CgTaLGDGlb

— Amer Zeidan MBBS,MHS ‏عامر زيدان (@Dr_AmerZeidan) June 7, 2024

Several HCPs shared the news of the FDA’s approval of Merck’s pembrolizumab for patients with metastatic endometrial carcinoma. 30 HCPs between 17-18 June reshared announcement posts of the news, but gynecologic oncologist, Bhavana Pothuri was one of a minority of HCPs to respond with an opinion. Dr Pothuri added her thoughts saying: “FDA approves pembro…more progress for patients!”

FDA approves pembro w/ chemo for primary adv or recurrent EC- more progress for patients! IO now std of care in all pts w/ #endometrial cancer frontline irrespective of mmr status! ⁦@GOG⁩ ⁦@SGO_org⁩ ⁦@NRGonc⁩ ⁦@igcs ⁦⁦@rne_md⁩ https://t.co/V9WK1LbIMH

— Bhavana Pothuri (@BPothuri) June 17, 2024

Later in the month, on 20 June, it was announced the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which advises on NHS spending, had approved three cystic fibrosis drugs from Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Kaftrio, Symkevi and Orkambi to be made available on the NHS. HCPs in the UK shared the news from a social media post by the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, reflecting the years of campaigning leading up to the decision.

Today, NICE have given approval for the life-changing #cysticfibrosis modulator drugs to be made available on the NHS in England. This follows many years of campaigning by Cystic Fibrosis Trust and people right across the CF community.https://t.co/x7TV04xqXU pic.twitter.com/yKTG8OvZCI

— Cystic Fibrosis Trust (@cftrust) June 20, 2024

The next day, Bristol Myers Squibb’s adagrasib with cetuximab – treatment for a type of colorectal cancer – was granted accelerated approval by the FDA. This drew the attention of influential doctors who disseminated the news including Vivek Subbiah, Razelle Kurzrock and Yüksel Ürün.

🚨It's Friday and time for another FDA approval!
👉FDA grants accelerated approval to adagrasib + cetuximab for KRAS G12C-mutated colorectal cancer #Precisionmedicine @SarahCannonDocs @bmsnews 🧬🎯
Link to FDA approvalhttps://t.co/20ePeSFRKI
Link to @NEJM… pic.twitter.com/PqfJFLWSlY

— Vivek Subbiah, MD (@VivekSubbiah) June 21, 2024

The three most shared stories from HCPs discussing product launches in June were:

• An FDA press release announcing the approval of Geron Corportation’s imetelstat for low- to intermediate-1 risk myelodysplastic syndromes with transfusion-dependent anemia
• The FDA Roundup from May 31, 2024
• A Cystic Fibrosis Trust news article about the NICE approval of permanent access to ‘life changing’ cystic fibrosis drugs 

Each month, CREATION.co tracks the HCP conversation relating to new product launches.

You can keep up to date with this and a variety of other topics including virtual congress, healthcare changes since the pandemic, product development and therapy area-specific insights within the Tracking section of CREATION Knowledge, or sign up to receive our monthly eJournal with all of our latest HCP insights. 

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Methodology

• CREATION Pinpoint^® listened to the discussions amongst online HCPs of pharmaceutical product launches and drug approvals between 1 June and 30 June 2024. 

• The data included mentions of drug approvals by the FDA, EMA, NICE, and CHMP, as well as HCPs’ use of the phrase ‘drug approval’ in their posts.

• Between 1 and 30 June 2024, 1,382 online HCPs worldwide made 2,180 references to new pharmaceutical product launches and drug approvals.