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 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday said it had approved
Darzalex (daratumumab) for patients who had already undergone at
least three prior standard treatments for the cancer, which affects
infection-fighting plasma cells that reside in the bone marrow.
Darzalex, given as an infusion, is a monoclonal antibody that works
by helping the immune system attack cancer cells. J&J licensed
worldwide rights to the medicine from Danish biotech company Genmab
A/S.
In one 106-patient study, tumors shrank or were no longer detectable
in 29 percent of patients taking Darzalex, and the benefit lasted
for an average of 7.4 months. In a second trial, involving 42
patients, 36 percent of patients taking the J&J/Genmab drug saw a
partial or complete reduction in tumors.
Researchers said it is the first antibody drug to demonstrate
effectiveness against myeloma without having to be combined with
other medicines.
The most common side effects of the treatment included fatigue,
nausea, back pain, fever and cough.
An estimated 26,850 Americans are expected to be diagnosed with
multiple myeloma in 2015.
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All patients eventually become resistant to existing therapies,
which include Takeda's Velcade and Celgene's Revlimid, as well as
newer drugs Kyprolis from Amgen and Celgene's Pomalyst.
(Reporting by Ransdell Pierson; Editing by Steve Orlofsky)
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