Efforts to improve trial diversity predate COVID-19, but the pandemic’s disproportionate effects on minority communities have brought the issue to the forefront.

iTeos presents early anti-TIGIT results, Affimed reports 100% response rate in Hodgkin lymphoma, Treovir will start a pivotal Phase II after Phase I pediatric glioma study, updates in KRAS-mutated cancers from Revolution Medicines and Cardiff Oncology, plus Opdivo plus chemo shows complete responses in neoadjuvant lung cancer and Lilly’s Retevmo is active in additional tumors.

NCI networks had vast under accrual in the past year, but Sharpless says industry has been affected to a greater degree. He says the institute also has been better at accruing minority patients.

Oncology partnership with Swiss major follows late 2020 pact with Merck KGaA. Pfizer divests Phase Ib breast cancer candidate to Celcuity.