A new cancer treatment strategy is on the horizon that experts say could
be a game-changer and spare patients the extreme side effects of
existing options such as chemotherapy. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the first time approved a
single treatment that can intelligently target cancer cells while
leaving healthy ones alone, and simultaneously stimulate the immune
system to fight the cancer itself.
The treatment, which is called T-VEC (for talimogene laherparepvec)
but will be sold under the brand name Imlygic, uses a modified virus to
hunt cancer cells in what experts said was an important and significant
step in the battle against the deadly disease.
It works by introducing a specially modified form of the herpes virus
by injection directly into a tumor, specifically skin cancer, the
indication for which the drug has been cleared for use.
No comments:
Post a Comment