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Robert B. Den, MD, is the Chief Medical Officer at Alpha Tau Medical as well as an associate professor of radiation oncology, cancer biology, and urology at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Articles

Robert B. Den, MD, outlines the exploratory applications of the Alpha DaRT technology across the prostate and bladder cancer landscapes.

Novel alpha particle therapy holds promise in prostate, bladder cancer

Benjamin P. Saylor is associate editor of Urology Times, an Advanstar Communications publication.

The company is engaged in discussions with the FDA surrounding the initiation of a pivotal phase 3 trial of Alpha1H.

Alpha1H shows favorable safety, efficacy in phase 2/3 NMIBC trial

Concurrent use of an ARPI with [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 did not improve response rates nor overall survival in patients with ARPI-refractory mCRPC.

Continuing an ARPI with [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 may not provide additional benefit in mCRPC 

The approval of oral sulopenem was supported by data from the phase 3 SURE 1 (NCT03366207) and REASSURE (NCT05584657) trials.

Oral sulopenem for uncomplicated urinary tract infection launches on US market

Urology Times is the leading resource for urologists & allied health professionals offering clinical analysis, policy perspectives, & practical advice.

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Winston E. Barzell, MD, is in private practice in Sarasota, FL.

The inherent limitations of the standard transrectal ultrasound approach for prostate biopsy have led to both diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas.

How to perform transperineal saturation prostate biopsy

The FDA has accepted a new drug application (NDA) for zoliflodacin, an investigational first-in-class, single-dose, spiropyrimidinetrione oral antibiotic for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older with uncomplicated gonorrhea, Innoviva Specialty Therapeutics announced in a news release.

The Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date for the application is December 15, 2025.

Zoliflodacin is an oral antibiotic that inhibits type II topoisomerase, a bacterial enzyme that plays a key role in bacterial function and reproduction. According to the company, “If approved, zoliflodacin would be the first new antibiotic for treating gonorrhea in decades.”

The FDA has also granted a Qualified Infectious Disease Product designation to zoliflodacin, which enables the agent to benefit from priority review and market exclusivity.

“Today’s acceptance of the zoliflodacin NDA marks significant progress toward delivering health care providers with a potential new oral treatment option for uncomplicated gonorrhea, including infections caused by drug-resistant strains,” said David Altarac, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Innoviva Specialty Therapeutics, in the news release.

 “We look forward to working closely with the FDA during its review and, if approved, we are committed to expediting the availability of zoliflodacin to patients in the U.S.”

The NDA for zoliflodacin is supported by data from several clinical trials conducted through a collaboration with the Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership (GARDP). This portfolio of studies includes a pivotal phase 3 trial (NCT03959527) that evaluated zoliflodacin vs a standard of care (SOC) regimen (500 mg ceftriaxone intramuscular plus 1g oral azithromycin) in patients with uncomplicated gonorrhea.

Overall, the trial met its primary end point by demonstrating that zoliflodacin was non-inferior to the SOC regimen regarding microbiological response at the urogenital site at the test of cure visit (6 +/- 2 days following treatment). Specifically, the microbiological cure rate was 90.9% in the zoliflodacin arm vs 96.2% in the ceftriaxone/azithromycin arm, representing a difference of 5.3% (95% CI, 1.4% to 8.7%) across patients in the micro-intent-to-treat (ITT) population.

The 2 cohorts also demonstrated comparable results on the trial’s secondary end point of microbiological response at extragenital (rectal or pharyngeal) sites. Specifically, at pharyngeal sites, the cure rate was 79.2% in the zoliflodacin arm vs 78.6% in the ceftriaxone/azithromycin arm (difference, -0.67%; 95% CI, -20.8 to 16.3). At rectal sites, the cure rate was 87.3% and 88.6%, respectively (difference, 1.23%; 95% CI, -14.4 to 12.6).

Zoliflodacin was generally well-tolerated in the trial. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) occurred in 46.2% of patients in the zoliflodacin arm vs 46.4% of patients in the ceftriaxone/azithromycin arm. The most common TEAEs in the zoliflodacin arm included headache (9.9%), neutropenia (6.8%), and leukopenia (3.9%).

There were no deaths or serious adverse events reported in either arm.

In total, the phase 3 trial included 930 patients with uncomplicated gonorrhea, including patients living with HIV. The study enrolled participants across 16 clinical trial sites in the US, Belgium, the Netherlands, South Africa, and Thailand.

According to Innoviva, the phase 3 study was “the largest clinical trial ever conducted for a new treatment against gonorrhea infection.”

Those enrolled in the study were randomly assigned 2:1 to receive 3 g single-dose, oral zoliflodacin (n = 621) or to 500 mg ceftriaxone intramuscular plus 1g oral azithromycin (n = 309). The primary end point was microbiological cure by culture at urogenital sites in the micro-ITT populations, with a non-inferiority margin of 12%. The trial’s secondary end point was microbiological cure at extragenital sites.

“This important milestone demonstrates the crucial role that public-private partnerships can play in tackling the escalating global antimicrobial resistance crisis,” said Manica Balasegaram, Executive Director of GARDP, in the news release.

 “If zoliflodacin is approved, this collaboration paves the way for millions of people across the world to get access to a potentially powerful new drug to treat multidrug-resistant gonorrhea.”

1. Innoviva Specialty Therapeutics receives FDA New Drug Application acceptance for zoliflodacin, a first-in-class oral antibiotic for uncomplicated gonorrhea in adults. News release. Innoviva Specialty Therapeutics. Published online and accessed June 10, 2025. https://innovivaspecialtytherapeutics.com/innoviva-specialty-therapeutics-receives-fda-new-drug-application-acceptance-for-zoliflodacin-a-first-in-class-oral-antibiotic-for-uncomplicated-gonorrhea-in-adults/

2. FDA Grants Priority Review for Zoliflodacin New Drug Application for the Treatment of Uncomplicated Gonorrhea and Assigns Target PDUFA Date of December 15, 2025. News release. Innovia Specialty Therapeutics, Inc. Published online and accessed June 12, 2025. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250612432209/en/FDA-Grants-Priority-Review-for-Zoliflodacin-New-Drug-Application-for-the-Treatment-of-Uncomplicated-Gonorrhea-and-Assigns-Target-PDUFA-Date-of-December-15-2025 

3. Luckey A, Broadhurst H, Daram P, et al. Oral zoliflodacin is non-inferior to a combination of ceftriaxone and azithromycin for treatment of uncomplicated urogenital gonorrhoea: results of a large global Phase 3 randomised controlled trial. Presented at: European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Global Congress. April 27-30, 2024. Barcelona, Spain. https://gardp.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Zoli001-Topline-ECCMID2024_final_V1.0_23Apr2024_.pdf

The FDA has accepted the NDA for zoliflodacin, a novel oral antibiotic for treating uncomplicated gonorrhea in patients aged 12 and older. Zoliflodacin, which inhibits type II topoisomerase, has been granted a Qualified Infectious Disease Product designation, allowing for priority review. Clinical trials, including a pivotal phase 3 study, demonstrated that zoliflodacin is non-inferior to the standard regimen of ceftriaxone and azithromycin. The trials showed comparable microbiological cure rates at urogenital and extragenital sites, with zoliflodacin being generally well-tolerated and no serious adverse events reported.

The NDA is supported by a pivotal phase 3 trial of zoliflodacin vs ceftriaxone plus azithromycin in patients with uncomplicated gonorrhea. 

News

FDA accepts new drug application for zoliflodacin for uncomplicated gonorrhea

Dr. De La Cerda provides an overview of a patient case involving a 68 year-old male presenting with severe back pain, with an analysis of the clinical presentation, workup, and medical history.

Bone Predominant mCRPC Patient Case

Video content above is prompted by the following:

What are your initial impressions of the case?

Video Series

The FDA has accepted a Biologics License Application (BLA) seeking approval of nivolumab (Opdivo) co-formulated with Halozyme’s proprietary recombinant human hyaluronidase (rHuPH20), or subcutaneous nivolumab, for the treatment of patients with all previously approved solid tumor indications for nivolumab as a monotherapy, monotherapy maintenance following completion of combination therapy with nivolumab plus ipilimumab (Yervoy), or in combination with chemotherapy or cabozantinib (Cabometyx).

Nivolumab is currently approved under several indications, including in combination with ipilimumab for the first-line treatment of patients with intermediate- or poor-risk advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), in combination with cabozantinib for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced RCC, for the treatment of patients with advanced RCC who have received prior anti-angiogenic therapy, and in combination with cisplatin and gemcitabine for the first-line treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic urothelial carcinoma.

The FDA is set to have a decision regarding the subcutaneous nivolumab formulation on or by December 29, 2024.

 According to a news release from Bristol Myers Squibb,

 approval of the formulation would make it the first and only subcutaneously administered PD-1 inhibitor.

“We believe subcutaneous nivolumab has the potential to make a significant difference in the lives of patients, which is reinforced by the FDA’s acceptance of our application,” said Gina Fusaro, PhD, vice president, global program lead, Bristol Myers Squibb, in the news release.

 “Opdivo is a foundational PD-1 inhibitor approved for many different types of cancer, and our continued investment in research that puts patients first remains a priority. If approved by the FDA, the subcutaneous administration of nivolumab would provide patients and their physicians with a new option that delivers the same well-known benefits as IV Opdivo but with the improved convenience of an injection administered in 3 to 5 minutes rather than a 30-to-60-minute infusion.”

The BLA submission is supported by findings from the phase 3 CheckMate-67T trial (NCT04810078), in which subcutaneous nivolumab met the study’s co-primary end points by demonstrating noninferiority to intravenous (IV) nivolumab regarding time average nivolumab serum concentration over 28 days (C

; geometric mean ratio [GMR}, 2.098; 90% CI, 2.001-2.200) and minimum serum concentration at a steady state (C

Data from the study, which were presented at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary Cancers Symposium in San Francisco, California,

 also showed that subcutaneous nivolumab demonstrated noninferiority to IV nivolumab in the key powered secondary end point of objective response rate (ORR). Specifically, the subcutaneous arm demonstrated an ORR of 24.2% (95% CI, 19.0-30.0) per blinded independent central review (BICR), compared with 18.2% (95% CI, 13.6-23.6) in the IV arm.

The safety profile for subcutaneous nivolumab was consistent with that of the IV formulation. Among patients who received the subcutaneous formulation, 8.1% experienced injection-site reactions, with all being low-grade and transient. Deaths due to study drug toxicity occurred in 3 patients in the subcutaneous arm and 1 patient in the IV arm. Most deaths that occurred during the study were due to disease progression.

In total, the phase 3, open-label CheckMate-67T trial enrolled 495 patients with advanced or metastatic ccRCC who had received prior systemic therapy. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive 1200 mg subcutaneous nivolumab plus rHuPH20 every 4 weeks (n = 248) or to 3 mg/kg IV nivolumab every 2 weeks (n = 247) for up to 2 years of treatment or until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, withdrawal, or death.

The co-primary pharmacokinetic end points for noninferiority testing were C

 of subcutaneous nivolumab vs IV nivolumab. The key secondary end point was ORR per BICR.

Final completion of the CheckMate-67T study is expected in January 2026.

1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration accepts Bristol Myers Squibb’s application for subcutaneous nivolumab (nivolumab and hyaluronidase). News release. Bristol Myers Squibb. May 6, 2024. Accessed May 7, 2024. https://news.bms.com/news/corporate-financial/2024/U.S.-Food-and-Drug-Administration-Accepts-Bristol-Myers-Squibbs-Application-for-Subcutaneous-Nivolumab-nivolumab-and-hyaluronidase/default.aspx

2. Bristol Myers Squibb announces updated action date by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for subcutaneous nivolumab (nivolumab and hyaluronidase). News release. Published online and accessed May 21, 2024. https://investors.bms.com/iframes/press-releases/press-release-details/2024/Bristol-Myers-Squibb-Announces-Updated-Action-Date-by-the-U.S.-Food-and-Drug-Administration-for-Subcutaneous-Nivolumab-nivolumab-and-hyaluronidase/default.aspx

3. George S, Bourlon TB, Chacon MR, et al. Subcutaneous nivolumab (NIVO SC) vs intravenous nivolumab (NIVO IV) in patients with previously treated advanced or metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC): Pharmacokinetics (PK), efficacy, and safety results from CheckMate 67T. 

4. A study of subcutaneous nivolumab versus intravenous nivolumab in participants with previously treated clear cell renal cell carcinoma that is advanced or has spread (CheckMate-67T). ClinicalTrials.gov. Last updated March 1, 2024. Accessed May 7, 2024. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04810078

The FDA is set to have a decision regarding the subcutaneous nivolumab formulation on or by December 29, 2024. 

FDA accepts BLA for subcutaneous nivolumab in solid tumors

The 40th Annual European Association of Urology Congress in Madrid, Spain, featured an extensive scientific program. In a recent video for 

, Betty Wang, MD, provided insight on 3 presentations that she believes “may be game changing” in urology.

The first study Wang highlighted was “Micro-ultrasound-guided versus MRI-guided biopsy for prostate cancer diagnosis: The OPTIMUM randomized clinical trial.”

“OPTIMUM was an international randomized study that compared micro-ultrasound guided vs MRI-guided biopsy for prostate cancer diagnosis,” explained Wang, a Society of Urologic Oncology fellow at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio.

“The authors noted that OPTIMUM demonstrated [that] micro ultrasound is non inferior to MRI fusion biopsy for detecting clinically significant prostate cancer and established itself as an appealing alternative to MRI for image guided biopsy. This would mean having a single procedure for both imaging and biopsy, and that could potentially be less expensive without using IV contrast, which is currently needed for multi-parametric MRIs,” Wang said.

The second study she highlighted was “Surgical outcomes and neoadjuvant safety with perioperative durvalumab for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NIAGARA).”

 Previously reported data from the NIAGARA trial showed that perioperative durvalumab (Imfinzi) plus neoadjuvant chemotherapy extended event-free survival and overall survival vs neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC).

 The FDA recently approved this treatment regimen for adult patients with MIBC.

At EAU, Wang said, investigators presented data on “the perioperative safety of durvalumab.”

“One of the main takeaways from this presentation was that durvalumab had no significant impact on the patient's ability to undergo surgery. In fact, if you look at the divide between the 2 arms, the addition of durvalumab actually increased the percentage of patients who underwent radical cystectomy from 83% (the chemo arm), compared to 88% (the chemo plus durvalumab arm). So if anything, it did not reduce the number of patients that could get their surgery in terms of cystectomy timing,” Wang said.

Betty Wang, MD, provided insight on 3 presentations that she believes “may be game changing” in urology.

Betty Wang, MD, recaps 3 key urologic cancer studies from EAU 2025

The final study Wang discussed was “AURORAX-0087A: Urine Glycosaminoglycan Scores for Surveillance of Recurrence in Intermediate and High-risk Non-metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma - An Observational Prospective Multicenter Diagnostic Test Cohort Study.”

“This study demonstrates that urine GAGome scores can be a promising biomarker for clear cell RCC [renal cell carcinoma] recurrence. It has a 97% negative predictive value, meaning a negative test can almost definitely rule out a recurrence. In terms of clinical impact, this could potentially reduce unnecessary imaging costs and radiation exposure to the patient,” Wang said.

1. Kinnaird A, Luger F, Cash H, et al. Micro-ultrasound-guided versus MRI-guided biopsy for prostate cancer diagnosis: The OPTIMUM randomized clinical trial. Presented at: 40th Annual European Association of Urology Congress. March 21-24, 2025. Madrid, Spain

2. Catto JWF, Al-Ahmadie H, van der Heijden MS, et al. Surgical outcomes and neoadjuvant safety with perioperative durvalumab for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NIAGARA) Presented at: 40th Annual European Association of Urology Congress. March 21-24, 2025. Madrid, Spain

3. Powles T, Catto JWF, Galsky MD. Perioperative durvalumab with neoadjuvant chemotherapy in operable bladder cancer. 

. 2024;391:1773-1786. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2408154

4. FDA approves durvalumab for muscle invasive bladder cancer. News release. US Food & Drug Administration. Published online and accessed March 28, 2025. 

https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resources-information-approved-drugs/fda-approves-durvalumab-muscle-invasive-bladder-cancer

5. Dabestani S. AURORAX-0087A: Urine Glycosaminoglycan Scores for Surveillance of Recurrence in Intermediate and High-risk Non-metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma - An Observational Prospective Multicenter Diagnostic Test Cohort Study. Presented at: 40th Annual European Association of Urology Congress. March 21-24, 2025. Madrid, Spain

Betty Wang, MD, provides insight on 3 presentations that she believes “may be game changing” in urology.

Introducing First Assist: GU Oncology Unpacked!

First Assist: GU Oncology Unpacked, hosted by Taylor Goodstein, MD, is the latest multimedia program from Urology Times.

Introducing First Assist: GU Oncology Unpacked, with Taylor Goodstein, MD!

, host Taylor Goodstein, MD, sets the stage for a podcast designed to demystify the complex and fast-moving world of genitourinary oncology. Currently entering her second year of a Society of Urologic Oncology fellowship at Emory University after completing residency at The Ohio State University, Goodstein brings a unique “in-between” perspective—no longer a resident, not yet a long-established attending—offering listeners a relatable guide through one of urology’s most knowledge-dense subspecialties.

Speaking directly to trainees while ensuring relevance for seasoned clinicians, Goodstein acknowledges the steep learning curve in GU oncology and her mission to make it more approachable. She promises to ask the questions that others may hesitate to voice—like “What is CIS, anyway?” or “What does this chemotherapy cycle actually entail?”—and to explore these topics through interviews with leading urologists, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, and basic scientists from across the country.

The podcast will span a wide range of subjects, from breaking trial data in non–muscle invasive bladder cancer to advances in focal therapy for prostate cancer to practical guidance for approaching an IVC thrombectomy. Episodes will blend guideline updates, expert commentary, and practical insights into both the “why” and the “how” of modern oncologic care.

The first series of episodes will take a historical look at how treatments for common urologic malignancies have evolved—because, as Goodstein notes, understanding where the field has been is essential to knowing where it’s going. Future episodes will intersperse this with timely, topic-driven conversations shaped in part by listener suggestions. (Please email us at UTeditors@mjhlifesciences.com with any suggestions.)

With a focus on accessibility, curiosity, and high-yield learning, 

 invites trainees and experts alike to engage in candid, informed discussions about the realities and innovations shaping GU oncology today.

 on Apple and Spotify, and stay tuned for insights on the past, present, and future of genitourinary oncology!

First Assist: GU Oncology Unpacked, hosted by Taylor Goodstein, MD, is the latest multimedia program from Urology Times.



First Assist: GU Oncology Unpacked, with Taylor Goodstein, MD

, broke down key findings from the phase 3 ENVISION trial (NCT05243550), which supported the approval of mitomycin intravesical solution (Zusduri; formerly UGN-102) for patients with recurrent low-grade, intermediate-risk non–muscle invasive bladder cancer (LG-IR-NMIBC).

Prasad is the vice chair of urology and surgical director of general uro-oncology at Atlantic Health System, Morristown Medical Center, as well as a partner at Garden State Urology in New Jersey.

Sandip M. Prasad, MD, MPhil, details key findings from the phase 3 ENVISION trial, which supported the approval of mitomycin intravesical solution in LG-IR-NMIBC.

Sandip Prasad, MD, on key data from pivotal ENVISION trial of mitomycin intravesical solution

In total, the ENVISION study enrolled 240 adult patients across 56 sites in the US and Europe. The primary end point for the study was the complete response (CR) rate at 3 months following the first instillation of the therapy. Secondary outcome measures included duration of response (DOR), durable CR rate, disease-free survival, and safety.

Overall, the trial met its primary end point by demonstrating a 78% (95% CI, 72 to 83) CR rate in patients with LG-IR-NMIBC at 3 months following the first instillation of the therapy. Overall, 79% of responders remained in CR at 12 months.

UroGen also recently reported updated data from the trial, showing that treatment with mitomycin intravesical solution led to a 24-month DOR of 72.2% (95% CI, 64.1 to 78.8) among patients who achieved an initial CR to treatment at 3-month follow-up.

“The nice thing about these topical agents like Zusduri and I think others coming down the line is that they don't really need you to see it,” Prasad explained. “The treatment goes across the entire lining of the urinary system, and so the entire urothelium is exposed to these treatments. So, even if a tumor is really small, it's going to see treatment.”

Prasad reports relevant disclosures with UroGen Pharma, Inc.

1. FDA approves mitomycin intravesical solution for recurrent low-grade intermediate-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. News release. US Food & Drug Administration. Published online and accessed June 12, 2025. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resources-information-approved-drugs/fda-approves-mitomycin-intravesical-solution-recurrent-low-grade-intermediate-risk-non-muscle

2. UroGen announces 24-month duration of response of 72.2% from the pivotal phase 3 ENVISION trial of ZUSDURI, the first and only FDA-approved medicine for recurrent low-grade intermediate-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. News release. UroGen Pharma, Ltd. August 5, 2025. Accessed August 18, 2025. https://investors.urogen.com/news-releases/news-release-details/urogen-announces-24-month-duration-response-722-pivotal-phase-3

Winston E. Barzell, MD

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