Diana Ernst, RPh

Editorial Director

Diana Ernst, RPh, is the Editorial Director for MPR, part of the Haymarket Medical Network. Since 2003, Diana has worked to provide healthcare professionals with up-to-date drug information through MPR's print and digital offerings. She is a graduate of the Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University.

All articles by Diana Ernst, RPh

General Oncology

AstraZeneca Pauses COVID-19 Vaccine Trials

Diana Ernst, RPh

September 10, 2020

In a statement, the Company noted that the actions being taken are considered “routine” when an unexplained illness is reported in a clinical trial.

General Oncology

FDA Approves Blood-Based Test as Companion Diagnostic for Multiple Cancer Drugs

Diana Ernst, RPh

September 1, 2020

Using a blood sample, the test is able to analyze more than 300 cancer-associated genes for alterations.

General Oncology

COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate Provides Protection in Animal Challenge Study

Diana Ernst, RPh

August 4, 2020

Vaccination with mRNA-1273, Moderna’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine candidate, led to robust immune responses and protection against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in nonhuman primates.

General Oncology

Pfizer, BioNTech Select COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate, Initiate Phase 2/3 Study

Diana Ernst, RPh

August 3, 2020

Pfizer and BioNTech have selected a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine candidate and have initiated their phase 2/3 safety and efficacy trial.

General Oncology

Phase 3 Trial of COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate mRNA-1273 Begins

Diana Ernst, RPh

July 29, 2020

The trial, which is the first to be implemented under Operation Warp Speed, is expected to enroll around 30,000 adults and will be conducted at multiple clinical research sites across the US.

Lung Cancer

Zepzelca Approved for Metastatic Small Cell Lung Cancer

Diana Ernst, RPh

June 17, 2020

The FDA has approved Zepzelca™ (lurbinectedin; Jazz Pharmaceuticals) for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic small cell lung cancer (SCLC) with disease progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy.

General Oncology

Early Data Show Potential Benefit of Acalabrutinib in Severe COVID-19

Diana Ernst, RPh

June 12, 2020

Acalabrutinib, a Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, appears to reduce respiratory distress as well as the hyperinflammatory immune response associated with coronavirus disease 2019.

Side-Effect Management

Ready-to-Dilute Liquid Formulation of Akynzeo Injection Approved

Diana Ernst, RPh

June 9, 2020

The FDA has approved a new ready-to-dilute liquid formulation of Akynzeo® injection (fosnetupitant/palonosetron; Helsinn) for the prevention of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting associated with initial and repeat courses of highly emetogenic cancer chemotherapy, in combination with dexamethasone in adults.

Lung Cancer

Cyramza Plus Erlotinib Approved for First-Line Metastatic NSCLC With EGFR Mutations

Diana Ernst, RPh

June 8, 2020

The FDA has approved Cyramza (ramucirumab; Lilly) in combination with erlotinib, for the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors have epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 19 deletions or exon 21 (L858R) substitution mutations.

Lung Cancer

Opdivo Plus Yervoy With Limited Chemotherapy Approved for First-Line Metastatic or Recurrent NSCLC

Diana Ernst, RPh

June 1, 2020

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the combination of Opdivo (nivolumab; Bristol Myers Squibb) plus Yervoy (ipilimumab; Bristol Myers Squibb) and 2 cycles of platinum-doublet chemotherapy, for the first-line treatment of adult patients with metastatic or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations.

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