Solving immuno-oncology trial challenges in the COVID-19 era

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed immense stress on healthcare provision, but the emergency may also make major advances in cancer treatment even more relevant – if studies can continue to improve.

The last decade has seen a sustained period of progress in cancer treatment with the emergence of immuno-oncology as a serious therapeutic option in the years since the US Food and Drug Administration’s 2010 approval for Dendreon’s pioneering Provenge.

Today, many other mechanisms have built on the ground broken by Provenge. Leading the way have been checkpoint inhibitors of PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4, the leading products of which have already been phenomenally successful.

However, immuno-oncology is a field that doesn’t stand still and, after 10 years of change, more advances are anticipated as understanding improves about how the various immuno-oncology treatments available and in development work, both on their own and in combination.

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