FDA approves new treatments for advanced melanoma

[LongTomH]

Melanoma is one of the deadliest and most aggressive forms of cancer known; it kills about 8,700 people a year in the US. Now, according to an SFGate article, there are two revolutionary new drugs approved for treatment of melanoma that may give hope to patients with advanced cases of the disease:

"A year or two ago, melanoma treatment wasn't like it is in this moment," said Dr. Adil Daud, director of UCSF's Melanoma Program.

Zelboraf, approved Wednesday, attacks a genetic mutation found in about half of melanoma patients, inhibiting the disease's ability to spread. The drug, which comes in a pill, was developed by Berkeley's Plexxicon and is being marketed by South San Francisco's Genentech and Daiichi Sankyo.

Another drug, Yervoy, triggers the bodies own anticancer immune responses.

The bad news is that, the first drug, Zelboraf, only works for those with the mutation; the second, Yervoy, is only effective in about 20% of patients. There is also the question of cost.

Both Zelboraf and Yervoy are expensive. Zelboraf will cost $9,400 a month - $56,000 for a standard six-month course of treatment, according to Genentech. Bristol-Myers said it would charge $120,000 for a complete course of Yervoy treatment, which lasts three months.

Supposedly, insurance companies are expected to cover the cost of the treatments.

I welcome any advance in the treatment of melanoma; I lost my dad to this disease years ago. I just wish we had a national health care plan that would guarantee that anyone with this form of cancer would be able to afford treatment, without leaving the patient's family in bankruptcy.

[HuckleB]

1. Interesting stuff...

Do you have links to what is posted in the OP?