This month is National Stroke Awareness Month, a time to increase awareness of the impact of stroke and spasticity, a condition that affects about 25-43% of stroke patients in the first year after a stroke. It causes certain muscles in the arms and legs to involuntarily contract or tense up. If left untreated, spasticity can progress and worsen over time. Approximately 1.8 million Americans live with this condition that can make simple movements and tasks, including buttoning a shirt to brushing teeth or even walking without help, difficult or nearly impossible.

Peter Hofland, Ph.D., spoke with Monica Verduzco-Gutierrez, MD., Professor and Chair of Rehabilitation Medicine at University of Texas Health San Antonio, in San Antonio, about spasticity.[1]

Also in this episode of Physician’s Weekly: Paul Schmidt talks with Danny Avula, MD, the Director of the Richmond City and Henrico County Health Departments in Virginia and a public health physician board-certified in pediatrics and preventive medicine, about the importance of the approval of the COVID-19-vaccine in a pediatric setting.

And later in the program: The CheckMate-9ER phase III clinical trial revealed significantly improved patient-reported quality-of-life outcomes with first-line nivolumab (Opdivo®; Bristol-Myers Squibb) plus cabozantinib (Cabometyx®; Exelixis) compared to sunitinib (Sutent®; Pfizer) for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma. Rachel Giles, MD, spoke with Professor David Cella, Ph.D., of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University about the outcomes.[2][3]

Clinical Trials
A Study of Nivolumab Combined With Cabozantinib Compared to Sunitinib in Previously Untreated Advanced or Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma (CheckMate 9ER) - NCT03141177

Reference / Information
[1] For more information about spasticity or to find a doctor who is experienced in treating patients with spasticity, go to HTTP://www.DontTakeSpasticity.com
[2] Hofland P. ESMO 2020: CheckMate 9ER Provides New First-Line Treatment Option for Patients Advanced RCC. Onco'Zine; September 19, 2020 https://tinyurl.com/yz6pww9d
[3] Choueiri TK, Powles T, Burotto M, et al. 696O_PR - Nivolumab + cabozantinib vs sunitinib in first-line treatment for advanced renal cell carcinoma: First results from the randomized phase III CheckMate 9ER trial. Ann Oncol . 2020;31(suppl_4): S1142-S1215