Welcome to OncoDaily Weekly, your all-in-one roundup of this week’s oncology news, major announcements, scientific advances, and insightful stories from February 16-22.
We start with 3 major announcements OncoDaily has made during the past week. Stay tuned!
Yvonne Award 2026 Nominations Open
It is that time of the year! We have announced the opening of nominations for the Yvonne Award 2026, a recognition honoring individuals who have made exceptional contributions to oncology through leadership, innovation, advocacy, and impact on patients’ lives. The award celebrates those who embody compassion and dedication in advancing cancer care globally. The initiative continues OncoDaily’s mission to highlight the people behind progress in oncology and invites the global community to nominate inspiring leaders shaping the future of cancer care.
OncoDaily Breast and OncoDaily Lung
OncoDaily launched OncoDaily Breast and OncoDaily Lung, dedicated platforms focused on breast and lung cancer research, treatment advances, advocacy, and patient stories. The initiative aims to bring together clinicians, researchers, and advocates to share knowledge and highlight developments in relative fields of oncology, strengthening the visibility of two of the most commonly diagnosed cancers currently.
EAU26
The European Association of Urology Congress 2026 (EAU26) showcased major developments in urologic oncology, including advances in prostate, bladder, and kidney cancer management. The meeting featured new clinical trial results, innovations in surgical techniques, and discussions around integrating precision medicine and biomarkers into urologic cancer care. We curated the 20 posts not to miss from the attendees.
Regulatory Developments
FDA Issues Complete Response Letter for Retifanlimab in Metastatic NSCLC
The U.S. FDA issued a Complete Response Letter (CRL) to Incyte regarding the biologics license application for retifanlimab in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. The agency cited issues related to the application that must be addressed before approval can be considered. The decision underscores the regulatory scrutiny surrounding immunotherapy approvals and highlights the importance of robust clinical evidence and manufacturing compliance in oncology drug development.
FDA Approval: Teclistamab Combination for Multiple Myeloma
The U.S. FDA approved teclistamab (Tecvayli) in combination with daratumumab and hyaluronidase-fihj (Darzalex Faspro) for adults with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior line of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor and an immunomodulatory drug. The approval was supported by the MajesTEC-3 trial, which showed improved progression-free survival compared with standard regimens, and it also converts teclistamab’s earlier accelerated approval as monotherapy into traditional approval.
HPV Vaccination and Cancer Prevention
Prof Ravi Mehrotra, MD, DPhil, FRCPath and Prof Rakesh Chopra, MBBS, MD reflect on the Government of India’s launch of a nationwide campaign to offer free HPV vaccination to all 14-year old girls. They highlight the transformative role of HPV vaccination in preventing several cancers, including cervical and head-and-neck cancers. Expanding vaccination coverage worldwide remains a key public health strategy to significantly reduce cancer incidence in future generations.
Biotech and Industry Developments
Lantheus Advances Oncology Imaging Technology
Lantheus continues to expand its role in oncology diagnostics through innovations in imaging technologies that improve tumor detection and treatment monitoring. The company’s work highlights the growing importance of precision imaging in guiding targeted therapies and enhancing personalized cancer care.
PRAME-Targeted iNKT Cell Therapy
MiNK Therapeutics announced a strategic collaboration with C‑Further to develop a PRAME-targeted iNKT cell therapy for pediatric cancers. PRAME-targeted invariant natural killer T-cell therapy represents a promising new approach in cellular immunotherapy. By targeting the cancer-associated antigen PRAME, the therapy aims to harness immune responses against tumors while expanding the potential of cell-based treatments beyond current CAR-T strategies.
Agenus and Zydus Group Partnership
Agenus has triggered the first $20M contingent payment under strategic collaboration with Zydus Group, supporting manufacturing activities for botensilimab (BOT) and balstilimab (BAL).
Servier Acquires Day One Pharmaceuticals
Servier announced the acquisition of Day One Biopharmaceuticals to advance care for low-grade glioma patients and accelerate innovation for people living with a rare cancer.
CancerWorld Magazine March Issue
The latest issue of CancerWorld magazine brings together leading voices in oncology to discuss emerging research, policy challenges, and patient perspectives. The magazine features cover stories with Dr. Karen Knudsen’s and Dr. Bente Mikkelsen highlighting the need of speeding the science for patients and advancing equity in childhood cancer care worldwide.
Global Health Leadership – Martine Deprez
OncoDaily World Health Voices Magazine featured Martine Deprez, Luxembourg’s Minister of Health and Social Security, who shared her vision for building a more responsive and integrated health system. With a background in mathematics, social security policy, and education, Deprez emphasized the importance of aligning healthcare financing with care delivery, strengthening prevention, and ensuring that patients can access timely care.
New Episodes on OncoDaily TV and Global Health
Don’t miss new episodes of new and already beloved series on OncoDaily TV.