New Leukemia Medication Shows Promise
Novartis AG recently announced that their new cancer drug, Tasigna, is showing promise as an effective treatment for patients suffering from leukemia. According to a spokesperson for the company, Tasigna is effective and helpful for newly diagnosed patients who a living with life threatening forms of leukemia.
Data from the two mid-stage clinical trials was presented at the American Society of Hematology and proved that there was a fast elimination of cancer cells in 96 percent of patients who were given Tasigna as a form of treatment. Patients who were suffering from Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia were reportedly particularly responsive to the drug.
"Tasigna now shows potential to become the treatment of choice for certain newly diagnosed patients with chronic myeloid leukemia," Novartis stated to reporters.
Tasigna Details
Tasigna has been approved for patients who are no longer responding to Glivec, which until now has been Novartis’ second-biggest seller and the most effective treatment for this deadly form of leukemia.
Data which was presented to a panel of researchers showed that an estimated nine out of ten patients suffering from this type of leukemia are still living in a healthy state after enduring seven years of a clinical trial with Glivec. This proves to be the longest overall survival for patients who are living with Philadelphia chromosome-positive CML.
Causes of CML
Leukemia and many other forms of cancer are commonly linked to exposure to the toxic chemical benzene. Benzene is a known carcinogen that is commonly used in various types of dyes, sodas, and is used as an additive in gasoline.
Those who are exposed to benzene over a long duration of time are at high risk of developing leukemia and other life altering illnesses due to the toxicity of the chemical.
