In November 2022 the FDA granted accelerated approval of a new drug; Elahere which improves survival for patients who have platinum resistant ovarian cancer. This was the first approval of an antibody/drug conjugate (ADC).
Now, a second fast track development by the FDA of a similar drug; Rina-S shows the importance of this treatment for those women. Both antibodies act by attaching to a cell membrane protein, folate receptor 𝛼, (FR𝛼), enabling intracellular access for the cytotoxic drugs, which destabilise cancer cell DNA, causing cell death.
FR𝛼 is found in about 60% of ovarian cancer, Elahere has been shown to be effective in the MIRASOL trial when there is high expression of FR𝛼 (75% of all cancer cells).
FDA approval in this way is a vote of confidence that finally there is an alternative treatment for those women unlucky enough to be platinum resistant. Further information from clinical trials currently underway will more clearly show the role and potential benefits of ADC therapy.
No comments:
Post a Comment