PERTH, Australia – Australia is at risk of falling behind the U.S. and Europe in preventing recurrence of melanoma, the Melanoma Institute Australia warns. It is urging the Australian government to undertake a timely review of immunotherapy treatments effective in preventing the spread of melanoma and to fast track listings on the government-subsidized Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

Ten targeted cancer drugs currently being tested in clinical trials involving 1,000 patients do not reach the targets at which they are aimed, according to recently published research.

HONG KONG – In one of the latest combination efforts against cancer, Kahr Medical Ltd. is teaming up with Switzerland's Basel-based Roche Holding AG to study the use of the former's lead program, DSP-10, in combination with the latter's PD-L1-blocking checkpoint inhibitor, Tecentriq (atezolizumab), in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung carcinoma refractory to checkpoint inhibitors.

BEIJING – Despite tensions between the U.S. and China, especially in the tech sector, Oncologie Inc. maintains its plans to pursue drug development in both markets. The clinical-stage startup, led by U.S. scientists and funded with Chinese capital, has stationed itself in both Boston and Shanghai to focus on developing innovative cancer therapies simultaneously in China and the U.S.