Healthcare professionals on social media praise “historic milestones” and “important steps forward” as latest oncology treatments approved

A new study into the online conversations of healthcare professionals on social media has found optimistic reactions to the approval of major new treatment options in the oncology space.

Research by digital insights consultancy Creation Healthcare revealed HCPs praised several approvals of new treatments, including for leukaemia and lung cancer, as “important steps forward”, “historic milestones”, and the “best news” for patients. 

The investigation assessed over 8,500 HCP mentions on social media of launches and approvals of new products between November 2024 and February 2025, authored by 4,271 HCPs worldwide.

Leukaemia

On 15 November, Syndax Pharmaceuticals received FDA approval for revumenib (Revuforj) for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory acute leukaemia with a KMT2A translocation. In 127 posts, 94 HCPs referenced the approval on social media. “Big news today for the leukemia community” began one post by Thomas Le Blanc, MD, who went on to highlight that the treatment was the “first-in-class menin inhibitor in #AML”.

Leukaemia physician Ghayas Issa also celebrated the news, sharing that he was “so happy to see that the benefit witnessed in patients on study is leading to a medicine to all who need it.”. He celebrated the treatment's position as a new “standard of care”. The post itself was amplified by 16 HCPs and garnered 51,950 impressions. 

Lung Cancer

On 4 December, the FDA’s approval of AstraZeneca’s durvalumab (Imfinzi) for the treatment of adult patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) drove a surge in HCP conversation. In 129 posts, 101 HCPs discussed the approval, with particular focus on treatment access for patients.

Thoracic oncologist Aakash Desai wrote that the approval “marks an important step forward for patients with limited-stage SCLC!”. “Best news!” began a response to this post by another thoracic oncologist, Ivy Riano, who added that she had ordered durvalumab for two of her patients.

Jarushka Naidoo, MD, also used her online platform to share the news, noting the progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) benefits, and highlighting that the durvalumab is currently available for patients in Ireland through the Early Access Program (EAP).  

Colorectal Cancer

In December, the FDA also granted accelerated approval for Pfizer’s encorafenib in combination with cetuximab and mFOLFOX6 for the treatment of colorectal cancer patients with a BRAF V600E mutation. In 110 posts, 90 HCPs shared news of the approval, which was based on data from the BREAKWATER phase III trial. Gastrointestinal medical oncologist, Alfonso De Stefano, for example, praised the approval as a “historic milestone.” 

Following the BREAKWATER data readout at ASCO GI 2025, medical oncologist Evelyn Wong posted about the trial results and highlighted that the recent approval was a new standard of care.

As Pfizer’s encorafenib in combination with cetuximab and mFOLFOX6 is the first treatment currently available for colorectal cancer patients with the BRAF V600E mutation, haematologist-oncologist Udhayvir Grewal referenced the approval online but nonetheless recognised the need for further innovation in the space. “[There is] a huge unmet need for better therapies in this group of patients”, he posted. 

Breast Cancer

On 27 December, HCPs posted about the approval of Dato-DXd (Datroway), AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo’s novel antibody drug conjugate (ADC) for certain breast cancer patients, in Japan. While sharing the news, medical oncologist Paolo Tarantino anticipated FDA approval of the treatment in January. 

FDA approval came on 17 January, causing a spike in HCP conversation around the product. Paolo Tarantino subsequently posted a thread on X educating his followers about the new ADC with “ten facts to know” about the treatment.

In February, medical oncologist Yakup Ergün reignited the conversation around the approval of Dato-DXd. Reflecting on the results of TROPION-Breast01, upon which the FDA based its original decision, Ergün wrote that Dato-DXd showed “no difference in OS compared to TPC”, the comparator. Consequently, Ergün stated “if PFS alone is enough for approval, does this mean OS is becoming less relevant?”. In response to the post, medical oncologist Bijoy Telivala stated:  “I personally don’t see a big use of it at this time”.

Label expansions of obesity and diabetes drugs for additional indications

Beyond posting about major oncology drug approvals, HCPs also used social media to discuss the latest label expansions of key obesity and diabetes treatments, Zepbound and Ozempic.

Zepbound

The FDA’s decision to approve Eli Lilly’s Zepbound (Tirzepatide) for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in adults with obesity - which coincided with the approval of encorafenib -  also led to a spike in HCP conversation. 235 HCPs posted 267 times about the expansion. Cardiologist Mohammed Alo shared the news and highlighted the benefits of the drug, particularly in reducing cardiovascular risk. This post was shared by 29 HCPs and garnered over 50,000 views. 

In addition to posting about the approval, Almudena Castro Conde, a cardiologist from Spain, voiced hope that the European Medicines Agency would follow the FDA’s lead in approving Zepbound for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Six HCPs amplified this post - underscoring a desire for Zepbound’s label expansion to be approved beyond the US.

Ozempic

Online HCP conversation around approvals spiked again on 28 January as HCPs discussed the FDA’s label expansion of Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic for the treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD). 163 HCPs mentioned the approval in 192 posts. 

Michael Albert, a physician specialising in obesity and cardiometabolic medicine, celebrated the label expansion as “a major win for patients, providers, and the future of diabetes management!”. This post was shared 31 times by HCPs and garnered a total of 62,000 views. Similar sentiment was shared by Melina Manolas, a hepato-endocrinologist, who described the approvcal as a “HUGE WIN for our patients.” 

Most-shared stories

Through the period, the three most shared stories from HCPs discussing product launches were an FDA press release announcing the approval of Zepbound (tirzepatide), which drew 171 HCP posts gaining 1,504,514 impressions, a CNBC news article about the FDA’s label expansion of Ozempic, which was the subject of 67 HCP posts gaining 298,495 impressions, and an FDA press release announcing the approval of revumenib, which drew 59 HCP posts gaining 167,579 impressions.