FDA approves Progenics' treatment for rare adrenal gland tumors

[July 31, 2018]  (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday approved Progenics Pharmaceuticals Inc's treatment for two types of rare adrenal gland tumors, making it the first drug approved in the United States for this use.

The drug, Azedra, was approved to treat patients above the age of 12 who have either of the two tumors - pheochromocytoma or paraganglioma - and require anti-cancer therapy, the FDA said https://bit.ly/2Ovz75p.

The two tumor types affect the adrenal gland that releases the adrenaline hormone, which triggers the body's defense mechanism. Pheochromocytomas increases production of some of the hormones made in the gland, leading to high blood pressure.

The health regulator said the drug would be used to treat patients whose tumor has spread beyond the original site and cannot be surgically removed.

Trading in the shares of the company were halted.

(Reporting by Manas Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Sai Sachin Ravikumar)

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