The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved Treanda (bebdanustine hydrocloride) for patients with the slow growing blood and bone marrow cancer chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
The drug, marketed by Cephalon, is a chemotherapy drug that has shown to slow the progression of the disease will be available as an alternative treatment option as of April.
A randomized study of 301 patients found that 59% of those taking Treanda had their cancer significantly reduced compared to 26% of those taking Leukeran (chlorombucil), a drug commonly used to treat CLL.
Researchers believe that Treanda works by disrupting cell division and damaging DNA in tumor cells leading to cell death.
Cephalon has also applied to the FDA for approval of Treanda for the treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in patients who have seen the disease worsen depsite taking Rituxan. A decision is expected in October 2008.
[Source: American Cancer Society]
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