New Melanoma Drug Gets FDA Approval

New Melanoma Drug Gets FDA Approval

A new drug has received approval by the Food and Drug Administration. The drug is a gigantic step forward in cancer treatment and can completely change the way advanced cases of melanoma are being treated. It is name pembrolizumab and was tested on over 600 patients with varying stages of skin cancer.

The medical team that studied the effects of the drug found that it produced efficient and long-lasting changes. The first company that won the right to produce the drug was Merck & Co. They are planning to name the drug Keytruda, which is an antibody that is also known as MK-3475.

Keytruda, a PD-1 inhibitor, works by blocking the cellular connections that prohibit the body’s immune system from successfully attacking cancer cells. It has the potential to replace traditional forms of melanoma treatment that include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.

Skin cancer or melanoma begins in cells called melanocytes, the cells that are responsible for producing pigment. It can be a very efficient killer once the cancerous cells have spread to other parts of the body, especially to the brain.

The last decades showed an increase in melanoma cases which now count at around 76,000 in the U.S. causing 10,000 deaths each year. According to Dr. Antoni Ribas a lead researcher on the Keytruda study the new drug is basically side effect free. According to Merck the treatment will cost approximately $12,500 per month with the median usage being anywhere between 6 months to a year.

Posted by George Daniels on Thursday October 09 2014, 9:43 AM EST. Ref: wp. Link. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News, Health. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0