The Food and Drug Administration approved a new drug for the treatment of advanced melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. The drug received levaquin side effects fda a green light faster than many other drugs in the field of personalized medicine and proponents say it bodes well for other gene products in development. When the released earlier this summer in New England Journal of Medicine, the experts called it a game-changer for people with melanoma that metastasized or may not be operated on. And most cases - except when he caught early, melanoma invariably fatal. The new pill, made by Genentech and Roche called Zelboraf, does not cure melanoma. But it may stop the growth of cancer for several months and is expected to prolong patients' lives. How it works by blocking the gene mutation that contributes to uncontrolled growth of cancer cells. About half of melanoma patients have mutations. The FDA has also approved a test that determines who they are. And Zelboraf not only a new addition to the arsenal against melanoma. Earlier this year the FDA approved Yervoy, made by Bristol-Myers Squibb. It also prolongs survival in patients with advanced cases. Plans are underway to test the two drugs together. "This was an important year for patients with advanced melanoma," Dr. Richard Pazdur, director of FDA's office of oncology drug products, said in. According to K. Peter Hirth, CEO of Plexxikon - a company that helped develop the Roche drug Zelboraf is an example of gene-based personalized medicine, which could be developed more quickly than other drugs. Molecules in Zelboraf was discovered in 2005, and brought to market in less than six years later. This is expected to cost about $ 60,000 for a six-month course of treatment. Patients should be able to get it within a few weeks.
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