Post by Banner Health

Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center played a critical role in a clinical trial that has led to FDA approval of a new treatment transforming care for patients with an ultra-rare and aggressive blood cancer. The FDA recently approved the drug pivekimab sunirine, also branded as Decnupaz, for adults with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN). Pivekimab is a CD123-targeted antibody drug conjugate that was evaluated as monotherapy for both newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory BPDCN. This approval was based on results from the CADENZA trial, a multicenter international study led by MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, with significant contributions from Banner MD Anderson. BPDCN is an ultra-rare blood cancer with a typical survival of just a few months. Previously, the only approved therapy required week-long hospital stays and carried serious, potentially fatal, risks. Pivekimab allows outpatient treatment given once every three weeks with significantly better results and lower toxicity. The trial showed remarkable outcomes: 75% of newly diagnosed patients achieved complete remission, with a median survival of 16.6 months. Over half of responding patients were able to proceed to potentially curative stem cell transplants. One patient traveled from Montana to receive treatment at Banner MD Anderson as part of this trial. After treatment and transplant, he remains disease-free nearly four years later — spending time with his grandchildren and maintaining excellent quality of life. Dr. Matt Ulrickson from Banner MD Anderson served as a key investigator and co-author on this pivotal trial, with Natasha Tamula serving as the primary clinical research coordinator. The entire Banner MD Anderson clinical trials team worked diligently to enroll and treat patients at our site, ensuring they had access to this promising investigational therapy. Congratulations to Dr. Ulrickson, Natasha and the clinical trials team on this remarkable achievement! #Research #Oncology #EndCancer