Blood cancer: US FDA approves Pfizer’s therapy for multiple myeloma

New Delhi: Pfizer the drug manufacturing company, on Monday stated that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved fast clearance to its therapy for the treatment of a challenging form of blood cancer. According to Reuters report, the basis for this approval is strong evidence from mid-stage research that found that 58 per cent of patients who received Pfizer’s medication had either no evidence of cancer or a considerable decrease in cancer cells.

This ground-breaking decision allows patients with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer that is frequently resistant to conventional treatment and can come back even after a patient has received four or more rounds of certain classes of treatments, to use Pfizer’s therapy, “Elrexfio,” according to Reuters.

The medication, also known as elranatamab, is given subcutaneously, or under the skin. It is in the family of bi-specific antibodies, which increase the immune system’s capacity to target and destroy malignant cells by fusing immune cells with cancer cells.

Also Read: World Blood Cancer Day: Expert lists empowering treatment breakthroughs

When the drug will be available?

According to Pfizer, the medicine will be offered to patients in America for $7,556 for the 44 mg vial and $13,051 for the 76 mg vial. The firm estimates that the therapy’s first list price will be around $41,500 per month. Pfizer estimates that once patients switch to biweekly medication, the monthly cost will drop to about $26,000.

Results from mid-stage trials show that Elrexfio has an average treatment time of eight months. Patients ought to get access to it in the weeks following the FDA’s clearance, according to Pfizer.

What is multiple myeloma?

A cancer known as multiple myeloma develops in a kind of white blood cell known as a plasma cell. Healthy plasma cells produce antibodies that bind to and destroy bacteria, assisting your body in fighting illnesses, accoridng to Mayo Clinic. 

In multiple myeloma, cancerous plasma cells gather in the bone marrow and replaces the healthy blood cells. Cancer cells produce abnormal proteins that may cause problems rather than produce helpful antibodies.

Also Read: World Blood Cancer Day: Lifestyle modifications for patients to prompt treatment effectiveness

Symptoms

Pain in your spine or chest and bone
Nausea
Constipation
Reduced appetite
Perplexity or haziness of the mind
Fatigue
Many infections
Loss of weight
Leg trembling or numbness
Extreme thirst