Everyone is considering it revolutionary, and a break-through in medicine! A new class of cancer drug that can treat a wide range of tumors has been approved for use in Europe for the first time.
These drugs work by targeting tumours according to their genetic make-up, rather than where they originate in the body. As a result, they can be used to treat a range of type of diseases – shrinking tumours in up to three-quarters of cancers tested.
Earlier detection and treatment of cancer is a central part of the long-term plan for the health service. These drugs will help the patients lead a longer and healthier life.
Two drugs – Larotrectinib, produced by Bayer, and entrectinib, from Roche, were expected to be the first drugs to be licenced. The drug that just got approved is larotrectinib. This drug works by blocking the NTRK enzyme, effectively shrinking the tumour. Early clinical trials showed the tumour responded in two thirds to three-quarters of the cancers tested.
While, Charlotte Stevenson, a two-year-old from Belfast, was one of the first patients to benefit. She was diagnosed with infantile fibrosarcoma, a cancer of the body’s connective tissue. She has been successfully treated with larotrectinib as part of a clinical trial at the Royal Marsden Sutton, in London, for the past year.
Being able to treat many different types of cancers with one drug is huge news! Excellence for each individual type of cancer they treat such as breast or colon cancer.
Now, after the approval, the new drugs will be available to treat all types of tumour without individual approval.
Sources: BBC , The Telegraph
