Advanced Prostate Cancer Breakthrough?

Alpha pharmaceutical Alpharadin extends lives of advanced prostate cancer patients

(RxWiki News) The treatment options for advanced prostate cancer that's spread to the bone are minimal at this point. An experimental drug that's currently being tested may soon change the outlook for patients.

A drug that's in late-stage trials shows promise in extending the lives of patients with prostate cancer that has metastisized (spread) to the bone. The drug works by pinpointing, invading and killing bone tumors with targeted radiation.

"Ask your oncologist about Alpharadin - for advanced prostate cancer patients."

Developed by Bayer and biotech firm Algeta, the drug Alpharadin is the first medication that appears to not only shrink bone tumors, but also extend survival.

This so-called "alpha pharmaceutical" targets and blasts bone tumors with radiation. It's a new type of drug containing radium that attaches to bone in a manner similar to calcium. It's a mechanism that spares healthy bone tissue.

At this point, Bayer is planning to seek U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for Alpharadin by mid-2012.

Clinical trial results were presented at a recent cancer research meeting in Sweden. Alpharadin is considered a major advancement in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer.

Results of any clinical trial are preliminary before they are published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Review Date: 
September 27, 2011