Bristol-Myers Squibb Co (NYSE:BMY) and AbbVie Inc (NYSE:ABBV) are working in collaboration for a cancer therapy that can delay the progression of the myeloma cancer in less than five months. The company is currently in the final stages of the study and is now looking forward to seeking the approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Elotuzumab drug has been included in the existing treatment of the myeloma cancer, and the results are bound to be a breakthrough in finding a cure for the cancer. The findings have been provided by a recent study involving 646 myeloma cancer patients who were administered the drug and showed a 30% lowering of the growth of the cancer. The effects of the drug were examined on the people who had a relapse or did not respond well to other treatments.
Respite To Cancer Patients
American Society of Clinical Oncology President-Elect Julie M. Vose stated that study paved the way to an innovation that is going to help patients deal with their cancer in a better way. The findings are also a positive sign for the cancer patients who had a relapse. Having the marketing rights to the drug, Bristol-Myers has yet to release a statement confirming the news.
The researchers have found that the use of this drug not only targeted the myeloma cells, but also helped the killer cells to fight against the myeloma. The Phase 3 study was led by Sagar Lonial, chief medical officer of the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University. He stated that this drug was an immune-based approach to fighting against the myeloma cancer. The Elotuzumab drug was 30% more effective in helping fight the growth of the myeloma cancer cells in the body than the existing treatments that are being used at present.
Breakthrough For Treating Myeloma Cancer
The findings are important as over 114,000 individuals report myeloma cancer across the world annually. Bristol-Myers has found that less than 50% myeloma cancer patients can live beyond five years after being diagnosed, and this drug can help improve the survival rate. The findings of this study have been released by the American Society of Clinical Oncology and are going to presented on May 29.
