New Lung Cancer Drug Opdivo May Hold Hope for Mesothelioma Patients

Federal approval of the highly-touted immunotherapy drug Opdivo for advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer may signal good news for malignant pleural mesothelioma patients. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration earlier this month granted accelerated approval to Opdivo, also known as nivolumab, after it showed an unprecedented ability to prolong the lives of lung cancer patients with metastatic disease. Opdivo, marketed by Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, is designed to inhibit the protein on cells that blocks the body's immune system from attacking the cancer. Immunotherapy, which most believe is the future of cancer care, involves triggering the body's own immune system to fight off disease. The drug has been a life-extender for many already. "It's the biggest breakthrough for lung cancer in recent history," said scientist Raymond Wong, Ph.D., of the Pacific Heart Lung & Blood Institute in Los Angeles, a world leader in mesothelioma treatment and research. "It could signal a paradigm shift in the way many cancers are treated, including mesothelioma one day." Although the recent approval is only for lung cancer, mesothelioma patients may get access to the drug through the FDA's expanded access exception if these conditions are met: If a doctor determines there is no comparable or satisfactory alternative therapy available, and the probable risk to the patient is not greater than the risk from the actual disease. The FDA determines there is evidence of the sa...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Treatment & Doctors Source Type: news