The Hindu : National : Drug for blood cancer approved for use in India

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Friday, Jun 03, 2005

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National

Drug for blood cancer approved for use in India

Staff Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Drug Controller of India has approved the use of Velcade (bortezomib), a new line of treatment for multiple myeloma, a serious form of blood cancer, in the country. The drug will be available in the next couple of months.

According to Shyam Agarwal, senior consultant Oncology at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, the medicine was being imported from the U.S. on a case-to-case basis. It is expected to be available in India as soon as regulatory formalities are completed.

The new drug works by blocking the proteasome — cell's waste disposers — that control the growth of the cell. The medicine interferes with the chemical messengers that control cancer cell deaths. It is indicated that to treat multiple myeloma patients who have received at least one prior treatment and indicated progression on their last therapy — the most difficult to treat patients.

Studies show that Bortezomib can slow, reverse or halt progressive of multiple myeloma in patients who failed on two or more treatments, enabling them to live longer.

Multiple myeloma is a severe form of blood cancer that is under-recognised and has no cure. It is the second most prevalent blood cancer after non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

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