OncoDaily Weekly reports key oncology developments from December 15 to 21, including leadership changes, regulatory actions, scientific advances and global policy shifts.
OncoDaily published its list of the 100 Most Influential People in Oncology in 2025, profiling scientists, clinicians, policymakers, industry leaders, advocates and philanthropists who are shaping research agendas, regulatory decisions, clinical standards and health policy worldwide.
Community and leadership changes included ASCO electing Deb Schrag, MD, MPH, FASCO, as president for the 2027–2028 term. Georgios Giamas was appointed editor-in-chief of Oncogene, and Eric Singer became chair of the Kidney Cancer Association board. The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer named co-chairs for the World Conference on Lung Cancer 2027 in Denver, assembling leaders in pathology, surgery, radiation and translational research to guide one of thoracic oncology’s largest meetings.
The World Cancer Leaders’ Summit 2025 report emphasized that improving cancer outcomes increasingly depends on implementation—national cancer plans, reliable financing and health-system accountability—rather than discovery alone. Richard Sullivan warned of a “polycrisis” in cancer systems driven by conflict, workforce shortages and underfunded care pathways. Bill Gates presented modeling showing how reductions in global health funding could reverse decades of progress, arguing for scalable innovation and smarter allocation of resources.
In Europe, the EU announced health reforms intended to simplify medical device rules, reduce costs and shorten delays, and proposed a Biotech Act to expand capacity and accelerate cross-border clinical trial approvals. The UN General Assembly adopted the Final Political Declaration on NCDs and Mental Health, retaining the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer target to “improve childhood cancer survival through scaling up interventions in order to achieve a survival rate of at least 60 per cent globally by 2030.”
The FDA issued final guidance clarifying clinical trial safety reporting requirements to reduce ambiguity and improve compliance. The agency also confirmed that rejection letters will be made public to increase transparency and adjusted how real-world evidence can be used in certain medical device submissions, loosening restrictions on non-identifiable patient data.
Regulatory approvals and trial updates included full FDA approval of rucaparib for BRCA‑mutated metastatic castration‑resistant prostate cancer after confirmatory data, approval of RYBREVANT FASPRO (subcutaneous amivantamab) across existing indications to reduce infusion time and logistical burdens for patients with EGFR‑mutated NSCLC, and FDA approval of fam‑trastuzumab deruxtecan‑nxki combined with pertuzumab as a first-line option for HER2‑positive metastatic breast cancer supported by DESTINY‑Breast09. The RINGSIDE trial reported clinically meaningful activity of varegacestat in desmoid tumors, a notable advance in a disease with limited systemic options.
Industry and discovery moves included a multi-year collaboration between Caris Discovery and Genentech to identify and validate novel oncology targets using large‑scale molecular profiling. Ajax Therapeutics received FDA orphan drug designation for AJ1‑11095, a Type II JAK2 inhibitor for rare hematologic malignancies. The IASLC launched VIKTOR, a global digital knowledgebase designed to standardize thoracic oncology translational research by integrating models and molecular data.
High-profile advocacy continued to shape public awareness. Angelina Jolie shared images of her surgical scars and advocated for normalized genetic testing and preventive care. Sir Cliff Richard disclosed his prostate cancer diagnosis and successful treatment and urged earlier detection and routine screening.
OncoDaily announced plans to expand into programs linking media, research, education and advocacy to address unmet needs and build sustainable oncology initiatives globally. Editor-in-Chief Gevorg Tamamyan said the outlet will move beyond reporting to initiate programs aimed at improving access to prevention, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care, with several initiatives set to launch in the coming months.
Written by Elen Baloyan, MD, Managing Editor of OncoDaily
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