Author: Fran Mannino

Johnson & Johnson funded a study more than 50 years ago at a Philadelphia prison that injected asbestos fibers into a small number of inmates to measure the short-term reaction to the toxic mineral when mixed with talc. Details of Johnson & Johnson’s involvement in that study were unsealed for the first time at a […]

The post Past Asbestos Testing on Inmates Could Affect J&J Talc Lawsuits appeared first on Mesothelioma Center – Vital Services for Cancer Patients & Families.

Much to the ire of plaintiff attorneys across the country, a federal judge in New Jersey granted approval for Johnson & Johnson to move forward with its controversial bankruptcy plan involving thousands of talc-related lawsuits. This strategy will allow Johnson & Johnson to split its assets from its liabilities, putting more than 38,000 claims on […]

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Scientists at the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom recently published phase 2 clinical trial results involving abemaciclib, a new genetic therapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma. Researchers designed the trial to match mesothelioma treatment to a patient’s specific genetic profile. The early study results are promising for mesothelioma patients who have previously received first-line […]

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A research team at the National Cancer Institute is developing a novel therapy that could change the treatment paradigm for pleural mesothelioma. It is a long-awaited, much-needed breakthrough. The potential intraoperative adjuvant is a spray-on hydrogel involving genetically engineered molecular nanoparticles designed to specifically target and kill tumor cells. It showed surprising efficacy in a […]

The post NCI Moving Closer to More Effective Treatment for Pleural Mesothelioma appeared first on Mesothelioma Center – Vital Services for Cancer Patients & Families.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently moved a step closer to a much-needed, stricter standardization of testing for the presence of toxic asbestos fibers in talc-containing cosmetic products. On Jan. 13, the FDA released its 124-page consensus document written by the Interagency Working Group on Asbestos in Consumer Products. It outlined a scientific assessment […]

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Researchers have made significant progress in mesothelioma treatment advancements recently, including promising work with immunotherapy. The first U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved combination immunotherapy for mesothelioma, nivolumab and ipilimumab, known by brand names Opdivo and Yervoy, has been effective for many patients. In September 2021, the European Society for Medical Oncology presented study data showing […]

The post Clinical Trials Lead to Promising Updates in Mesothelioma Immunotherapy appeared first on Mesothelioma Center – Vital Services for Cancer Patients & Families.

A federal judge in North Carolina delivered a major setback to Johnson & Johnson and its controversial plan to unload all talc-related litigation in bankruptcy court through a recently-created subsidiary. Bankruptcy Judge Craig Whitley said he was “obligated” to move the case from North Carolina to New Jersey, where Johnson & Johnson is headquartered and […]

The post Court Deals Blow to Johnson & Johnson Bankruptcy Plan for Talc Cases appeared first on Mesothelioma Center – Vital Services for Cancer Patients & Families.

Researchers at the University of Vermont Cancer Center have uncovered a new approach to the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma, sparking a clinical trial that has opened with considerable anticipation. The trial involves RSO-021, a novel drug that works by inhibiting a tumor cell’s ability to manage its own toxic waste byproduct. “The key to […]

The post University of Vermont Study Opens New Door for Mesothelioma Treatment appeared first on Mesothelioma Center – Vital Services for Cancer Patients & Families.

When the effectiveness of first-line chemotherapy fails and malignant mesothelioma returns, more patients could soon turn with confidence to a proven, second-line treatment. The first phase III, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial studying the safety and efficacy of Opdivo, the immunotherapy drug known generically as nivolumab, has raised the level of confidence in this option for […]

The post Study Supports Opdivo as Second-Line Mesothelioma Treatment appeared first on Mesothelioma Center – Vital Services for Cancer Patients & Families.

A recently amended California law will now allow the estates of deceased plaintiffs, including mesothelioma patients, to collect pain and suffering damages. Previously, only the person who sustained bodily injury could recover pain and suffering damages. These damages are often the largest sums of money at stake in many mesothelioma lawsuits. When it becomes law on […]

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As expected, Johnson & Johnson has unloaded its burgeoning talc-related liabilities on a new subsidiary that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Oct. 14. The controversial move, which confirmed the fears of many personal injury attorneys, is an attempt by J&J to more easily resolve the thousands of current and future lawsuits claiming that […]

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Secondary exposure to toxic asbestos has declined dramatically in recent decades, but known cases of malignant mesothelioma caused by that type of asbestos exposure have continued to climb. Increasing awareness of the rare cancer has led to the contrasting trends and an expected rise in personal injury lawsuits involving secondary asbestos exposure. “One of the […]

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Facing legal pressure from health and advocacy organizations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has agreed to broaden its ongoing Risk Evaluation for Asbestos under the Toxic Substances Control Act. An agreement to settle two lawsuits – both alleging inadequate evaluation of toxic asbestos – was filed Oct. 13 in the U.S. Court of Appeals for […]

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