A Pfizer investigational compound,palbociclib,an oral drug,has received Breakthrough Therapy designation by the FDA for the potential treatment of patients with a form of breast cancer.The designation expedites the development and review of the compound,as it is intended to treat a serious or life-threatening disease and preliminary evidence indicates the drug may demonstrate substantial improvement over existing therapies.
Pfizer has initiated a Phase 3 study evaluating palbociclib in combination with letrozole versus letrozole alone as a first line treatment for post-menopausal patients with ER+,HER2- locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer.The study is currently open and enrolling.
Preliminary Phase 2 data show that women treated with the combination of palbociclib with letrozole achieved statistically significant improvement in median survival compared to those treated with letrozole alone(26.1 months versus 7.5 months.)
Palbociclib is an inhibitor of cyclin dependent kinases,or enzymes that serve as on and off switches in tumour cells.The drug was shown to inhibit cell growth and supress DNA replication.Pfizer,the world's largest pharmaceutical company,is also investigating the drug's potential for treating other cancers.
Pfizer(PFE)
Showing posts with label breast cancer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label breast cancer. Show all posts
Friday, April 12, 2013
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Cheap Diabetes Drug May Help Cancer Patients
Metformin,an inexpensive and commonly prescribed diabetes drug,may hold promise as part of a treatment regimen for certain cancer patients,including breast cancer sufferers,a new study suggests.
The Anglo-American team of researchers was led by Professor Michael Lisanti of the University of Manchester,who said they have showed that the food cancer cells consume is crucial to how well a patient does and what treatment they need.If cancer cells are consuming high energy foods,ketone and lactate,this makes a tumor more aggressive and harder to treat.However,patients could benefit from metformin,which cuts off this fuel supply.There is much work to do,but a test to identify these patients could be an important new way of tailoring treatments to a patient's needs,across a wide range of cancers.
The research team,from the Breakthrough Cancer Research Unit at the University of Manchester and Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelpia,found that breast cancer patients whose cancer cells consumed high energy foods were more likely to suffer recurring and metastatic,or spreading,cancers.These patients were identified by a certain gene signature.This signature may show which individuals could benefit from taking metformin,the generic diabetes medication.
Anthony Howell,another University of Manchester professor and director of the Breakthrough Cancer Research Unit,thinks the study marks another step towards personalised medicine,as it shows the best way to treat individual cancer patients.
The Anglo-American team of researchers was led by Professor Michael Lisanti of the University of Manchester,who said they have showed that the food cancer cells consume is crucial to how well a patient does and what treatment they need.If cancer cells are consuming high energy foods,ketone and lactate,this makes a tumor more aggressive and harder to treat.However,patients could benefit from metformin,which cuts off this fuel supply.There is much work to do,but a test to identify these patients could be an important new way of tailoring treatments to a patient's needs,across a wide range of cancers.
The research team,from the Breakthrough Cancer Research Unit at the University of Manchester and Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelpia,found that breast cancer patients whose cancer cells consumed high energy foods were more likely to suffer recurring and metastatic,or spreading,cancers.These patients were identified by a certain gene signature.This signature may show which individuals could benefit from taking metformin,the generic diabetes medication.
Anthony Howell,another University of Manchester professor and director of the Breakthrough Cancer Research Unit,thinks the study marks another step towards personalised medicine,as it shows the best way to treat individual cancer patients.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Frontiers In Medicine:Genentech's Cancer Treatment Approved
The FDA has approved Genentech's biotech medicine Herceptin,in combination with chemotherapy,as a treatment for certain stomach cancers-metastatic ones with the protein HER2 on tumor cells.
Early studies suggest Herceptin may block signals that cause tumor cells to grow and divide,and also signals the immune system to destroy the cancer cells.
About 21,000 Americans will be diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2010,and more than 10,500 will die of it.Often,symptoms of the disease do not appear until the late stages,when it has become metastatic,or spreading,or cannot be surgically removed.
The latest analysis shows that median overall survival with the Herceptin/chemotherapy regimen was 13.1 months,versus 11.7 months with chemotherapy alone.Herceptin is also used to treat HER2+ metastatic breast cancer.
Hal Barron,M.D.,executive vice president of Product Development and chief medical officer,said the FDA approval provides an important new personalized medicine for people with the life-threatening disease who have few treatment options.
Formerly an independent firm,Genentech became a member of Switzerland's Roche Group in March 2009.Considered the original biotech company,Genentech uses human genetic information to discover,develop,manufacture and commercialize medicines for gravely ill patients.
The Roche Group is traded on the over the counter pink sheets in the U.S.,under the ticker symbol RHHBY.
Early studies suggest Herceptin may block signals that cause tumor cells to grow and divide,and also signals the immune system to destroy the cancer cells.
About 21,000 Americans will be diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2010,and more than 10,500 will die of it.Often,symptoms of the disease do not appear until the late stages,when it has become metastatic,or spreading,or cannot be surgically removed.
The latest analysis shows that median overall survival with the Herceptin/chemotherapy regimen was 13.1 months,versus 11.7 months with chemotherapy alone.Herceptin is also used to treat HER2+ metastatic breast cancer.
Hal Barron,M.D.,executive vice president of Product Development and chief medical officer,said the FDA approval provides an important new personalized medicine for people with the life-threatening disease who have few treatment options.
Formerly an independent firm,Genentech became a member of Switzerland's Roche Group in March 2009.Considered the original biotech company,Genentech uses human genetic information to discover,develop,manufacture and commercialize medicines for gravely ill patients.
The Roche Group is traded on the over the counter pink sheets in the U.S.,under the ticker symbol RHHBY.
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