2018 Bay Area Neuroendocrine Patient Conference - Hosted by UCSF
2018 Neuroendocrine Tumor Patient Conference
Hosted by:UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
In cooperation with NorCal CarciNET Community, NET Research Foundation, Stanford University Medical Center
Sunday, January 21, 2018 - 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Mission Bay Conference Center - 1675 Owens Street, San Francisco, CA
The day will feature nationally-renowned UCSF and Stanford NET experts, along with other internationally-known physician specialists who will offer sessions on immunotherapy, tumor bio-markers, PRRT, current clinical trials and strategies for living well after diagnosis. A pre-conference “primer” is offered for those newly diagnosed or in need a refresher on the basics of NETs. We will also have breakout sessions for disease types as well as some specifically for caregivers.
Lutathera Approved in the European Union
Advanced Accelerator Applications (AAA) Receives European Approval of Lutetium (177Lu) Oxodotreotide (Lutathera®) for Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine
AAA announced on September 29, 2017 that the European Commission (EC) has approved the marketing authorization of lutetium (177Lu) oxodotreotide* (Lutathera®) for “the treatment of unresectable or metastatic, progressive, well differentiated (G1 and G2), somatostatin receptor positive gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) in adults.” This approval allows for the marketing of lutetium (177Lu) oxodotreotide* (Lutathera®) in all 28 European Union member states, as well as Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. A New Drug Application is currently under review by the US Food and Drug Administration. The Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) action date is January 26, 2018. Click here to read the company press release or here to read the EU approval.
Comments on NRC Patient Release Program
The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging submitted comments to U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on its patient release programs. The NRC announced a request for comments from the general public.
Specifically, the NRC is seeking input from the public on whether additional or alternate criteria are needed and whether to clarify the NRC's current patient release requirements. The information will be used to determine whether significant regulatory changes to the NRC's patient release requirements are warranted.
NRC is seeking feedback in six areas listed below.
- Development of an Activity-Based Patient Release Threshold
- Clarification of the Time Covered by the Current Dose Limit in 10 CFR 35.75(a) for Releasing Individuals
- Appropriateness of Applying the Same Limit on Dose From Patient Exposure to All Members of the General Public
- Requirements for Releasing Individuals Who Are Likely To Expose Young Children and Pregnant Women
- Requirement for Timely Discussion With the Patient About Patient Isolation to Provide Time for Licensee and Patient Planning
- Requirement To Ensure Patients Are Given Instructions Prior to the Procedure
NorCal CarciNET Community submitted a breif letter in support of the SNMMI's position and voiced concerned that any addtional requirement might reduce access to upcoming new therapy options for NETs that have very low radiation exposure to the general public.
If you would like to comment in support of the SNMMI's or NorCal CarciNET Communty's position click here. You may add your comments through June 27, 2017.
Make your voice heard - NIH Funding
Advocates rally to protect federal funding of cancer research
The White House released a 2018 budget outline on March 14, 2017 that cuts National Institutes of Health (NIH) spending by nearly 20 percent. NorCal CarciNET shares the concern expressed by other cancer-related organizations and our collaborators that a funding decrease of this magnitude could disrupt, even derail, America’s cancer investigators and research institutions. These cut will amount to nearly $100 million shortfall to UCSF and Stanford only according to the San Francico Chronicle. These cut include a nearly $1.2 billion dollar cut for the NIH in FY2017.
NIH funding critical
More than 80 percent of the $32 billion NIH budget is awarded to universities, medical schools and other research institutions through a competitive grant process. NIH grants often comprise a significant portion of an institution’s or individual investigator’s funding.
FDA approves Xermelo for carcinoid syndrome diarrhea
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Xermelo (telotristat ethyl) tablets in combination with somatostatin analog (SSA) therapy for the treatment of adults with carcinoid syndrome diarrhea that SSA therapy alone has inadequately controlled.
“Today’s approval will provide patients whose carcinoid syndrome diarrhea is not adequately controlled with another treatment option,” said Julie Beitz, M.D., director of the Office of Drug Evaluation III in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.
This new treatment is now available by prescription and will be in select specialty pharmacies beginning March 6, 2017.
To read more about the approval click here for the FDA's release or here for the Lexicon press release.
For those needing information on how to getting Xermelo please click here.