On December 2, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved rituximab (Rituxan^®) in combination with chemotherapy for pediatric patients aged at least 6 months to 18 years with previously untreated, advanced stage, CD20-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, Burkitt lymphoma, Burkitt-like lymphoma, or mature B-cell acute leukemia. 

On November 30, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj (Darzalex Faspro™), carfilzomib (Kyprolis^®), and dexamethasone for adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who received one to three prior lines of therapy.

On November 22, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved sirolimus protein-bound particles for injectable suspension (Fyarro™) for adult patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic malignant perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa).

After clinical trials demonstrated an overall response rate of 36% and median response duration of 10 months, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted sotorasib (Lumakras^TM) accelerated approval on May 28, 2021, for the treatment of adults with KRAS G12C–altered locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as determined by an FDA-approved test, who have received at least one prior systemic therapy.

On October 29, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to asciminib (Scemblix^®) for patients with Philadelphia chromosome–positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph+ CML) in chronic phase (CP) who were previously treated with two or more tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). FDA also approved asciminib for adult patients with Ph+ CML in CP with the T315I variation.

A first-of-its-kind antibody-drug conjugate for multiple myeloma, belantamab mafodotin-blmf (Blenrep) received accelerated approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August 2020. The approval was based on clinical trial findings that demonstrated a 31% overall response rate that lasted at least six months in 73% of responders.

On October 15, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved atezolizumab (Tecentriq^®) for adjuvant treatment following resection and platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with stage II–IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with PD-L1 expression on ≥ 1% of tumor cells as determined by an FDA-approved test. 

On October 13, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved pembrolizumab (Keytruda^®) in combination with chemotherapy, with or without bevacizumab, for patients with persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS ≥ 1), as determined by an FDA-approved test. 

On October 12, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved abemaciclib (Verzenio^®) with endocrine therapy (tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor) for adjuvant treatment of adult patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative, node-positive, early breast cancer at high risk for recurrence and a Ki-67 score ≥ 20%, as determined by an FDA-approved test. This is the first CDK4/6 inhibitor approved for adjuvant treatment of breast cancer.  

Initially studied for its radioprotective effects on healthy cells, avasopasem may also increase cancer cells’ response to radiation treatment, researchers reported in Science Translational Medicine.

On October 1, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved brexucabtagene autoleucel (Tecartus™) for adult patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Initially marketed in April 2020 for treatment of adults with metastatic triple negative breast cancer, sacituzumab govitecan-hziy (Trodelvy^®) received an additional approval in 2021 for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer with prior treatments.

On September 22, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ruxolitinib (Jakafi^®) for chronic graft-versus-host disease after failure of one or two lines of systemic therapy in adult and pediatric patients aged 12 years and older.

On September 17, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved cabozantinib (Cabometyx^®) for adult and pediatric patients aged 12 years and older with locally advanced or metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) that has progressed following prior vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGFR)-targeted therapy and who are ineligible for or refractory to radioactive iodine treatment.

On September 20, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to tisotumab vedotin-tftv (Tivdak™), a tissue factor-directed antibody and microtubule inhibitor conjugate, for adult patients with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer whose disease has progressed on or after chemotherapy.

On September 15, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to mobocertinib (Exkivity™) for adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 20 insertion variants, as detected by an FDA-approved test, whose disease has progressed on or after platinum-based chemotherapy.

On August 31, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved zanubrutinib (Brukinsa^®) for adult patients with Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM).

On August 25, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ivosidenib (Tibsovo^®) for adult patients with previously treated, locally advanced, or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma with an isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 (IDH1) mutation as detected by an FDA-approved test. FDA also approved the Oncomine Dx Target Test as a companion diagnostic device to aid in selecting patients with cholangiocarcinoma for treatment with ivosidenib.

On March 10, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved tivozanib (Fotivda^®), an oral kinase inhibitor, for adult patients with relapsed or refractory advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) following two or more prior systemic therapies.

On August 19, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved nivolumab (Opdivo^®) for the adjuvant treatment of patients with urothelial carcinoma (UC) who are at high risk for recurrence after undergoing radical resection.

On August 16, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported Pfizer’s voluntary recall of an additional four lots of varenicline 0.5mg/1 mg tablets to the patient level because of the presence of N-nitroso-varenicline, a nitrosamine, above the Pfizer-established acceptable daily intake level. To date, Pfizer has not received any reports of adverse events that have been related to the recall. FDA reported Pfizer’s recall of 12 lots of varenicline tablets because of N-nitroso varenicline content on July 19, 2021.

On August 17, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to dostarlimab-gxly (Jemperli®) for adult patients with mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) recurrent or advanced solid tumors, as determined by an FDA-approved test, that have progressed on or following prior treatment and who have no satisfactory alternative treatment options.

On August 10, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the combination of lenvatinib (Lenvima®) and pembrolizumab (Keytruda®) for first-line treatment of adult patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

On August 13, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved belzutifan (Welireg®), a hypoxia-inducible factor inhibitor for adult patients with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease who require therapy for associated renal cell carcinoma (RCC), central nervous system (CNS) hemangioblastomas, or pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNET), that do not require immediate surgery.

On July 28, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported that a clinical trial (OCEAN, Study OP-103) evaluating melphalan flufenamide (Pepaxto®) with dexamethasone to treat patients with multiple myeloma showed an increased risk of death. 

On July 26, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved pembrolizumab (Keytruda^®) for high-risk, early-stage, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) in combination with chemotherapy as neoadjuvant treatment and continued as a single agent as adjuvant treatment after surgery. 

Pertuzumab, trastuzumab, and hyaluronidase-zzxf subcutaneous injection (Phesgo^TM) was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2020 for patients with advanced HER2-positive breast cancer. The drug components are the same as those in FDA-approved IV version, and study results showed comparable safety and efficacy to the IV counterparts. The new administration route allows eligible patients to bypass infusion centers or even receive the therapy at home.

On July 21, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved pembrolizumab (Keytruda^®) in combination with lenvatinib (Lenvima^®) for patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma that is not microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR), who have disease progression following prior systemic therapy in any setting, and are not candidates for curative surgery or radiation. 

Prescription overdoses and addiction rates have dramatically increased in the United States since 2012, with more than 70,000 deaths attributed to the abuse of fentanyl, opioids, cocaine, and methamphetamine in 2019, a 35% increase since 2015. Addressing drug misuse is a top priority for the Biden-Harris administration, as well as researching systematic inequities in the country’s approach to criminal justice and prevention, treatment, and recovery.

On July 16, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved belumosudil (Rezurock^TM), a kinase inhibitor, for the treatment of chronic graft-versus-host disease (chronic GVHD) in adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older after failure of at least two prior lines of systemic therapy. 

On July 9, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj (Darzalex Faspro^®) in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone for adult patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior line of therapy, including lenalidomide and a proteasome inhibitor.

On July 9, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved enfortumab vedotin-ejfv ([EV], Padcev®), a Nectin-4–directed antibody and microtubule inhibitor conjugate, for adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer who previously received a programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) or programmed death-ligand (PD-L1) inhibitor and platinum-containing chemotherapy or are ineligible for cisplatin-containing chemotherapy and have previously received one or more prior lines of therapy.

On June 30, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved asparaginase erwinia chrysanthemi (recombinant)-rywn (RylazeTM) as a component of a multiagent chemotherapeutic regimen for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) in adult and pediatric patients one month or older who have developed hypersensitivity to E. coli-derived asparaginase. 

On June 16, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved avapritinib (Ayvakit™) for adult patients with advanced systemic mastocytosis (AdvSM), including patients with aggressive systemic mastocytosis, systemic mastocytosis with an associated hematologic neoplasm, and mast cell leukemia.

On May 28, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to infigratinib (Truseltiq™), a kinase inhibitor for patients with previously treated, unresectable locally advanced or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma with a fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 fusion or other rearrangement as detected by an FDA-approved test. FDA also approved the FoundationOne^® CDx as a companion diagnostic for infigratinib. 

On May 28, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to sotorasib (Lumakras™), a RAS GTPase family inhibitor, for adult patients with KRAS G12Cmutated locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as determined by an FDA approved test, who have received at least one prior systemic therapy.

On May 27, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved piflufolastat F 18 (Pylarify^®), a drug for positron-emission tomography (PET) imaging of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-positive lesions in patients with prostate cancer.

On May 21, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to amivantamab-vmjw (Rybrevant™), a bispecific antibody directed against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and MET receptor, for adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations, as detected by an FDA-approved test, whose disease has progressed on or after platinum-based chemotherapy. FDA also approved the Guardant360^® CDx as a companion diagnostic.

On May 20, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved nivolumab (Opdivo^®) for patients with completely resected esophageal or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer with residual pathologic disease who have received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.

On May 5, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to pembrolizumab (Keytruda^®) in combination with trastuzumab and fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy for first-line treatment of patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma.

On December 18, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved relugolix (Orgovyx^TM) as the first oral hormone therapy for use in adult patients with advanced prostate cancer. 

On April 22, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to dostarlimab-gxly (Jemperli), an anti-PD-1 antibody, for adult patients with mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) recurrent or advanced endometrial cancer, as determined by an FDA-approved test, that has progressed on or following treatment with a prior platinum-containing regimen.

The nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent naproxen triggers immune cells in the intestinal lining to fight colorectal cancer in people with Lynch syndrome, researchers reported in Gut.

On April 16, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved nivolumab (Opdivo^®) in combination with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy for advanced or metastatic gastric cancer, gastroesophageal junction cancer, and esophageal adenocarcinoma.

On April 13, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to sacituzumab govitecan (Trodelvy^®) for patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer  who previously received a platinum-containing chemotherapy and either a programmed death receptor-1 or a programmed death-ligand 1 inhibitor.

On April 7, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted regular approval to sacituzumab govitecan (Trodelvy^®) for patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer who received two or more prior systemic therapies, at least one of which for metastatic disease.

On April 6, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new dosage regimen for cetuximab (Erbitux^®) of 500 mg/m2 via IV infusion for 120 minutes every two weeks for patients with KRAS wild-type, epidermal growth factor receptor-expressing colorectal cancer or squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

On March 31, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved isatuximab-irfc (Sarclisa^®) in combination with carfilzomib and dexamethasone for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received one to three prior lines of therapy. 

On March 27, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved idecabtagene vicleucel (Abecma), for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma after four or more prior lines of therapy, including an immunomodulatory agent, a proteasome inhibitor, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody. This is the first FDA-approved cell-based gene therapy for multiple myeloma. 

On March 22, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved pembrolizumab (Keytruda^®) for use in combination with platinum- and fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy for patients with metastatic or locally advanced esophageal or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) (tumors with an epicenter 1–5 cm above the gastroesophageal junction) carcinoma who are not candidates for surgical resection or definitive chemoradiation.