New hope is on the horizon in the fight against cancer. At this year’s American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting, some of the world’s biggest pharmaceutical companies unveiled promising data that could reshape how several aggressive cancers are treated.
While these breakthroughs offer promise for everyone, their potential impact on the Black community is especially significant. For too long, Black patients have suffered disproportionately from late diagnoses, limited access to cutting-edge therapies, and higher cancer death rates. These new treatments and technologies represent more than medical innovation—they represent a chance to close the survival gap.
AstraZeneca’s Enhertu Raises the Bar for Breast Cancer Treatment
AstraZeneca, alongside Daiichi Sankyo, presented standout results for its blockbuster drug Enhertu. In a late-stage trial, Enhertu combined with pertuzumab significantly delayed disease progression in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. This is a major development—one that could rewrite first-line treatment standards for the first time in over a decade.
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In the trial, patients receiving Enhertu plus pertuzumab lived nearly 41 months without disease progression, compared to about 27 months for those receiving the current standard-of-care three-drug regimen. That’s more than a year of additional progression-free survival—a major leap forward in cancer care.
David Fredrickson, executive VP of AstraZeneca’s oncology business, emphasized how this treatment offers hope to the many patients who never make it to second-line therapy due to rapid disease progression.
“This is about giving patients the best possible shot from the start,” Fredrickson noted. “And the data supports that Enhertu is more effective as an initial therapy than waiting to use it later.”
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Pfizer Makes Strides in Colorectal Cancer with Braftovi
Pfizer released compelling data from a Phase 3 trial showing that its drug Braftovi, when used in combination with chemotherapy and the antibody cetuximab, significantly improved outcomes for patients with BRAF V600E-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer—an especially aggressive form of the disease.
In the trial, this three-drug combination:
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Doubled overall survival time compared to standard treatment,
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Reduced the risk of death by 51%, and
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Cut disease progression risk by 47%.
Chief Scientific Officer Chris Boshoff described the results as “practice changing,” especially since BRAF-mutated colorectal cancer has historically shown poor response to treatment.
“This is the first time we’re seeing a clear impact on survival in a really tough-to-treat cancer,” said Boshoff. Pfizer has submitted the data to the FDA for approval expansion of Braftovi.
Gilead and Merck’s Combo Offers New Hope for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Gilead’s Trodelvy and Merck’s Keytruda—a powerful targeted therapy and immunotherapy duo—are poised to change the treatment landscape for patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). This form of cancer is notoriously difficult to treat and often carries worse prognoses.
In a large late-stage trial, the Trodelvy–Keytruda combination:
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Lowered the risk of disease progression by 35% in patients with PD-L1-expressing tumors,
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And showed strong potential to become a new standard first-line therapy for this patient group.
Dr. Jane Lowe Meisel, co-director of breast oncology at Emory University and an ASCO expert, said the results could set a new benchmark in care for TNBC patients.
“This is exactly the type of innovation we need—combining the power of targeted therapy with immunotherapy to get ahead of the disease,” she said.
Merck and Daiichi Sankyo Face Setback in Lung Cancer
Not all the news out of ASCO was celebratory. Merck and Daiichi Sankyo announced they are withdrawing their FDA application for patritumab deruxtecan, an experimental lung cancer therapy.
The drug did meet its primary goal in a previous study by delaying tumor progression, but it failed to extend overall survival in patients with previously treated non-small cell lung cancer carrying EGFR mutations.
Despite the setback, Merck remains committed to the program and plans to test the drug in breast cancer next.
“We’re learning from the data and refining our approach,” said Marjorie Greene, head of Merck’s oncology clinical development. “We’re still investing in this space.”
Amgen Delivers New Option for Small Cell Lung Cancer
Amgen brought encouraging news for small cell lung cancer patients—an especially aggressive form of the disease. Its drug Imdelltra, already granted accelerated approval by the FDA, showed a 40% reduction in the risk of death compared to standard chemotherapy in a new late-stage trial.
In addition to improving survival rates, Imdelltra extended median overall survival by five months, offering new hope for patients whose cancer had returned after initial treatment.
“This isn’t just about extending life—it’s about giving people more quality time and better outcomes,” said an Amgen spokesperson.
Bristol Myers Squibb Teams Up with BioNTech for Next-Gen Immunotherapy
In a significant move, Bristol Myers Squibb announced a potential $11.1 billion partnership with BioNTech to develop next-generation cancer immunotherapies. BioNTech, known for its COVID-19 vaccine, is now focused on cancer—specifically lung cancer and triple-negative breast cancer.
Phase 3 trials are already underway, and both companies believe the new drugs will compete with existing giants like Keytruda.
This collaboration could fast-track innovation in immune-targeted therapies, bringing a new wave of options to patients in the coming years.
AI-Driven Breast Cancer Prediction Gets FDA Approval
Another exciting development: the FDA approved Clairity, the first AI-powered breast cancer risk prediction platform. Created by Boston-based Clairity Inc., the tool is designed to provide accurate, personalized risk scores based on mammogram data.
Founder Dr. Connie Lehman emphasized that AI like this could help avoid unnecessary over-screening and catch cancers earlier in patients who might otherwise be missed.
“Equity in early detection is the key to saving lives,” said Dr. Lehman.
Why This Matters for Black Communities
These breakthroughs are more than medical milestones—they’re a call to action for improving outcomes in communities that have been historically left behind. When new treatments hit the market, we must ensure they are:
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Equitably accessible to all patients, regardless of income or zip code;
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Tested on diverse populations so we understand how they perform in Black patients;
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Paired with community education efforts that help people understand their risks and options.
At BlackDoctor.org, we believe awareness is the first step to empowerment. These breakthroughs may not eliminate disparities overnight, but they represent powerful tools that—when distributed equitably—can help save lives.
Let’s continue to ask the right questions, push for access, and demand that every innovation includes us in its design and delivery.
