In November 2018, the US Food and Drug Administration made the announcement that they have approved two new forms of cancer treatment. Known as Vitrakvi and Xospata, the new treatments saw an approval after receiving expedited reviews for its effectiveness. With these newest treatments coming to the forefront of the focus in cancer treatments, let’s examine what they are used for, and what to be aware of before beginning either treatment.
What Is Vitrakvi?
According to CNN, Vitrakvi is a cancer treatment intended for both adult and pediatric patients, whose cancer was created through a specific genetic feature or also known as a biomarker. What makes Vitrakvi unique to other forms of cancer research, is that t is prescribed to cancer patients based on the biomarker that they have. This shows a difference in current cancer medications, which are typically prescribed based on where the original cancerous tumor began. While the medication will only be an option in more specific instances, it provides a new alternative treatment for those whose cancer is too dangerous for surgery, and do not have other treatment options.
What Is Xospata?
The other cancer treatment that was approved is called Xospata and is used for treating patients who have relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with an FLT3 mutation. The cancer is one that typically begins in the bone marrow or blood of a patient, and is known to spread rapidly throughout the body when left untreated. For patients who have the FLT3 mutation, the cancer can not only become more dangerous to rapid spreading throughout the body, but it makes the cancer much more likely to come back, even if a patient had gone into remission. According to CNN, patients who are diagnosed with AML typically carry the FLT3 mutation, putting them at higher risk for a relapse.
Based on their effectiveness in clinical trials, both cancer treatments will be put under the expedited review of it on the market, meaning that a comprehensive overview of the drugs could be completed in the next six months. Until then, patients and doctors can discuss the potential treatment as an option for their cancer diagnosis moving forward.
What Are The New Cancer Treatment Drugs Vitrakvi And Xospata?
