FDA approval of Alimta + cisplatin in the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma
FDA today approved the first and only to help an asbestos-cancer patients survive longer a drug treatment program.
 
Malignant pleural mesothelioma "is one of the most devastating cancer," Lilly's oncology clinical research vice president Baoli Di (Paolo Paoletti) said, "This is a fatal cancer and pain." They will soon launch Alimta, the drug was approved in conjunction with cisplatin for the treatment of surgery is not appropriate for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma.
The world is estimated that each year there are 1 to 1.5 million people were diagnosed as malignant pleural mesothelioma, and this figure is still growing. The majority of people in the advanced stages of disease progression are not suitable for surgery or radiation therapy when diagnosed. The search for an effective drug treatment has been too long, but very difficult, "In the last century, the whole 70s, 80s and even 90s, we have been looking for. I participated in a number of tests, but most of all No results ", the University of Chicago Cancer Research Center is responsible for Alimta / cisplatin global Phase III clinical trial to assess the praise Vogel (Nicholas Vogelzang), but Alimta / cisplatin is different from the 19 countries using the 448 patients The joint - so far in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma in the largest test results showed that the overall survival rate of patients increased by 30% (of the Joint Group for 12 months with cisplatin alone to 9.3 months), a Years after the survival of the two groups of patients were 50.3% and 38.0%, two year and the average survival rate were significantly different.
 
"This is the first time we have confirmed that a chemical treatment can help patients survive longer - this is a major event," Dan Hamu one of the partners (Claude Denham) said. In addition, this study also found that a joint group of lung function than the cisplatin group has significantly improved.
 
Alimta caused by the hematology and non-hematological side effects: neutrophil leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, diarrhea, rash and pain. In order to reduce treatment-related toxicity of the severity, Alimta patients must be served each day of folic acid and intramuscular injection of vitamin B12. Like many of the same chemotherapy, Alimta also has dose-related bone marrow suppression, 3-4 toxicity level of adjustable-dose patients. Renal patients who do not use the drug. In addition, the use of NSAIDs such as ibuprofen category should also inform patients of the doctor. Alimta recommended that all patients have to use regular blood tests.