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FDA Approves Dostarlimab in Previously Untreated Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer
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Fusion42 · 19 October 2026 · Fusion42 review
The FDA granted accelerated approval to dostarlimab for previously untreated stage II/III locally advanced dMMR or MSI-H rectal cancer based on the phase 2 AZUR-1 trial showing that nearly three-quarters of patients avoided surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy. This approval is part of the FDA's National Priority Voucher pilot program and reflects a significant shift in treatment options for this patient group.
This Wire brief sits within Fusion42's coverage of Biotech, and 5 sources have reported it.
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You can now build services around a new FDA-approved drug that avoids surgery and chemo for rectal cancer, flipping patient care towards immunotherapy. This opens a route to target oncology workflows previously locked to traditional therapies.
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5 sources · 19 Oct 2026
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